'WSJ' Union Boycotts CNBC Appearances

By: Joe Strupp Updated at 4:20 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

Writers from The Wall Street Journal and other Dow Jones and Co. publications who normally provide commentary on CNBC are refusing to make such appearances for at least a month as part of an ongoing protest over contract talks, according to the union representing those workers.

The boycott affects a "content-sharing" relationship, in which Dow Jones is paid to provide reporters from the Journal, Barron's, the Dow Jones NewsWires and other publications exclusively to the financial-news cable network. Most reporters appearing on CNBC, however, are not paid for the additional work of going on air; they are paid only if their appearances reach a certain monthly threshold or if they appear well outside normal business hours, the union said.

Dow Jones spokeswoman Brigitte Trafford said the boycott would not affect the company's ability to maintain its presence on CNBC, which regularly includes non-union Dow Jones editors.

Trafford declined to provide specific details about the Dow Jones-CNBC partnership.

Officials at CNBC declined to comment Monday.

Journal employees, represented by the Independent Association of Publishers' Employees Local 1096 of The Newspaper Guild-CWA, launched the boycott of voluntary appearances Monday, according to Ron Chen, IAPE president. The action is in response to management's attempts to impose sweeping cutbacks in employee health care benefits during the current round of contract talks, union leaders said. They contend such cuts will result in more expensive health care for Dow Jones employees and their families as well as fewer choices for medical care.

IAPE represents about 1,700 Dow Jones employees, who have been without a contract since April 30. The union has requested annual wage increases of 2.5% (retroactive to May 1st), 3.5%, and 4% in a proposed three-year agreement, while management is offering no raise the first year, with wage increases of 1.5%, and 2% in subsequent years, according to union organizer Tim Martell.

Last week, more than 1,200 Dow Jones employees signed a petition urging management to reconsider its proposals, the union said. IAPE has also challenged Dow Jones CEO Peter Kann and Chief Operating Officer Rich Zannino to hold town-hall style meetings with company employees, union and non-union, to explain why these cuts are needed.

"It's time for the company to treat its employees with the respect that we deserve. The very employees that Dow Jones management is trying to take advantage of are the ones who, day in and day out, uphold the high standards that have made Dow Jones one of the best known and most respected brand names in the news business," said Tom Lauricella, a Wall Street Journal reporter and newsroom representative for IAPE.

Earlier this month, IAPE filed unfair labor practice charges against Dow Jones with the National Labor Relations Board. IAPE alleged that management has failed to live up to its legal and moral obligation to bargain in good faith by refusing to seriously discuss key issues, including health care, job security, and pay. The union charges that the company is attempting to force a punitive contract on employees.

"As long as the company refuses even to bargain with us as adults, we see no reason to give freely of our time," said Theo Francis, a Wall Street Journal reporter and New York location director at IAPE.

IAPE leaders said they recognize that some members have more formal arrangements directly with CNBC, under which their appearances are not purely voluntary, and that they may choose to honor those commitments.