Unfair Labor Practices Complaint Issued Against Richmond Paper

By: Joe Strupp The National Labor Relations Board has issued an unfair labor practices complaint against the Richmond Times-Dispatch, claiming the paper engaged in improper action related to ongoing contract negotiations.

The complaint is the result of a charge filed with the NLRB by the Richmond Newspapers Professional Association on June 23. NLRB officials have scheduled a hearing before an administrative law judge on Dec. 6 to review the charge.

Issued Aug. 31, the complaint names Deputy Managing Editor Howard Owen and Metro Editor Andy Taylor, citing comments each made on April 14, 2006. It contends that Owen "told employees that [the newspaper's] last, best and final offer was as good as it would get and if it was not ratified, [the newspaper] could put into effect a contract containing a lesser offer."

The complaint also states that Taylor told employees, "he felt betrayed because an employee had informed the union regarding his comments about ratifying" the offer.

"By the conduct described above," the complaint states, the newspaper "has been interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed" in the National Labor Relations Act.

Neither Owen nor Taylor could be reached for comment Wednesday.

"Media General will be very unhappy about this," said Jay Levit, attorney for the Richmond Newspapers Professional Association, which represents 180 newsroom and other employees at the Media General paper.

The RNPA has been in negotiations with the newspaper since mid-2005, according to Andrew Rome, a Media General attorney. He said the two sides had not held a negotiating session since February. The paper presented its last, best and final offer in April.

RNPA members overwhelmingly rejected the offer, a one-year contract that included a 1% raise, in an April vote, Levit said.

Times-Dispatch Publisher Tom Silvestri declined to comment on the NLRB complaint, referring questions to the paper's general counsel, George Mahoney. Mahoney, in a voice mail message, said he had not seen the complaint, but added, "When we do see it, it is likely we will have some comments for you."

The complaint comes nearly two months after a dispute at the paper over a new media policy that had been implemented at the end of 2005 and requires employees to receive supervisor approval before speaking with the press. The policy was spotlighted after staffer Mark Holmberg made anonymous comments to Style Weekly, a Richmond alternative newspaper, and later revealed his identity.

The issue eventually prompted the shutdown of an internal employee computer bulletin board and a special staff meeting held to remind employees of the policy. The NLRB complaint did not address the media policy. But Levit said the union is still considering ways to challenge it.

"They haven't retracted the 'gag rule,'" he said about the policy. "But they haven't disciplined anyone under it."

Adding to the newsroom shakeups was the July 31 resignation of Managing Editor Louise Seals, who stepped down after 38 years at the paper. She has said that her surprise departure was of her own choosing.