Faced with imminent layoffs and management’s refusal to negotiate a contract in good faith, workers from Northern California Media Workers Union Local 39521-CWA and community supporters held a press conference and picket in front of the San José Mercury News on June 26.
Gloria La Riva chaired. She is president of the Typographical Sector of Local 3951, which represents some of the
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“The company plans to move some of the work of our members to India, where the workers there will earn far less in wages. But we also know that most of our work will remain in the San José plant, much of it under non-union conditions.
“We vigorously denounce this union-busting and outsourcing scheme. We have absolutely nothing against the Indian workers, and Dean Singleton [owner of MNG] is the only one who will benefit. With the extra profits his company gains from outsourcing and layoffs, he will expand his newspaper empire to the detriment of the workers and community.”
La Riva stated that 40 journalists are also to lose their jobs. And the company is threatening to eliminate about 30 mailer jobs, because it is moving some of its operations to the nonunion Arden plant in Hayward, Calif.
Some 45 union and community supporters, as well as several of the workers facing permanent layoff when the current contract expires June 30, attended the press conference. Local union leaders, including C.J. Wilson, organizer, South Bay Labor Council; Chuck Davis, executive officer, Mailers Union, Local 15, Teamsters; Ken Prairie, international representative, Communications Workers of America; and Fred Hirsch, executive committee, Plumbers and Steam Fitters Local 393, made solidarity statements.
Richard Becker, western regional director of the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), also expressed solidarity emphasizing the importance for workers that unions exist and be defended. Members of South Bay Mobilization, a local anti-war coalition, and the San José Peace Center were also present.
The Mercury News workers slated for layoff pointed out the injustice and inequity they now face after the many years (in one case, 19) invested in their jobs, which generated many millions in profits for the company.
MNG states on its website: “We will continually strive to improve our profitability, while being a strong community partner and strengthening our work environment for our employees.”
In reality, profits are the overriding priority for this privately owned company. Employees in MNG’s Pleasanton and Contra Costa offices have already lost their jobs through outsourcing. MediaNews Group’s profits shot up to $13.3 million during the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2006, up from $982,000 during the same quarter the year before, due to acquisitions that included the Mercury News.
