Newspaper locks out more union workers

Monday, August 28, 2006 The Blade says it is trying to speed up contract negotiations. TOLEDO (AP) — The Blade locked out a third of its union workers Sunday in a contract dispute, including drivers and mailers. The newspaper, which locked out two other unions last week, says it is trying to speed up contract negotiations. One labor leader called the move union busting. The contracts expired in March, and one agreement was reached in July. No further talks have been scheduled. "We basically feel like we're being stalled," Blade spokeswoman Luann Sharp said Sunday. The three unions locked out Sunday represent about 200 workers including the drivers who deliver papers to drop-off sites, workers who process advertisements and mailers who assemble the papers. Eighteen workers with the paper's engravers and handlers unions were locked out earlier. Temporary workers will fill the jobs with no expected disruptions in production, Sharp said. The Blade has about 600 union workers. Concessions The unions have agreed to make concessions on wages and contributions to health care costs, but both sides have expressed frustration over an inability to agree on a management rights clause that would give administrators more flexibility to control staffing levels, layoffs and mandatory overtime shifts. Previous contracts did not include such a clause. The unions earlier asked readers to cancel their subscriptions and advertisers to pull their business. The Blade, owned by Block Communications Inc., has a daily circulation of 135,000 and 180,000 on Sundays. The workers will meet Monday to determine their next course of action, said Woody Trabbic, local president of the Teamsters Local 1135, which represents mailers. "The frustrating thing is that we've been trying to meet all of their proposals and cuts," said John Evans, president of the Teamsters Local 20, which represents the drivers. "We realized it was a bitter pill to swallow but we were willing to do it. This is just flagrant union busting." The lockouts will remain in place until a new contract is signed, Sharp said. She would not rule out the possibility of expanding the lockout to include the company's largest union, the Toledo Newspaper Guild, if progress isn't made soon. That union represents about 350 workers in the newsroom and advertising department.