USW Criticizes NLRB Decision to Postpone Beaver County Times Unfair Labor Practices Trial

[Omaha Steve]

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070918006565&newsLang=en

September 18, 2007 04:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time
News From USW: USW Criticizes NLRB Decision to Postpone Beaver County Times Unfair Labor Practices Trial

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--News From USW: The United Steelworkers (USW) today criticized a decision by the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) main office in Washington, D.C. to postpone for a second time, a trial scheduled to begin September 17 to resolve unfair labor practice complaints issued against Bridgewater, Pa.-based Beaver Newspapers Inc. d/b/a Beaver County Times.

The postponement was granted at the newspaper's request, and was opposed by USW and the NLRB's Region 6 office in Pittsburgh, which is responsible for prosecuting the complaints against the employer. A new trial has been scheduled for December 10, 2007.

"Such blatant denial of worker's rights to organize and bargain collectively is unacceptable and we will do everything we can to protect our members," Walton said.

Approximately 40 distribution workers at the newspaper have been trying to negotiate a union contract with the Times since April 2005, after a majority of them voted for workplace representation with the USW in an NLRB-supervised election.

The trial was to be heard by an NLRB Administrative Law Judge, who is to determine whether the complaints issued by NLRB Region 6 are meritorious. Region 6 has issued a total of seven unfair labor practice complaints, which have been consolidated for the trial. The complaints allege that the Beaver County Times unlawfully fired a worker because he supported the union and refused to rehire him when the fired worker reapplied for his vacated position. In addition managers unlawfully prohibited employees from conducting informational leafleting at the company.

The complaints also allege that the Beaver County Times is engaging in illegal bargaining, by refusing to negotiate in good faith, as required by the National Labor Relations Act. The complaints allege that the company, through its representatives, has failed to provide the union with information needed to conduct bargaining, and has refused to meet with the union at times, locations and duration other than its own choosing. Furthermore the complaints allege that the Beaver County Times has engaged in unlawful bargaining tactics by making and refusing to alter proposals that are on their face aimed at frustrating the bargaining process.

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