It was in the cards for 120 workers in the mailroom at the Dayton Daily News to gain representation by GCIU's Midwest Newspaper 128N.

Local 128N Pres. Robert Bryan reported that the Cox newspaper agreed to recognize the union after 95 percent of the workers signed cards requesting representation by the GCIU.

Bryan said everyone involved in the campaign was "elated when we received the acknowledgment from the company that they would recognize us."

The GCIU is no stranger to workers in the new unit, Bryan explained, because the union has had a long-time contractual relationship with the company for about 80 workers in the pressroom.

"The past history with this company with the pressmen has been a good history," Bryan said. "Our pressmen there have a very good contract, and I see no reason we can't get one in the mailroom. We look forward to working with management to achieve this goal."

Bryan said it is unfortunate that the GCIU had to file an unfair labor practice charge against the company over the suspension of Joe Peyton, the first vice president of the mailroom chapel who is a strong union activist. "It was an unfounded suspension," Bryan said. "They picked him out because he is pro-union. Joe is a number one front-line person and a 32-year employee with an absolutely unblemished record at work."

Bryan said "it wasn't a customary organizing campaign" for the mailers at the Daily News' Production Technology Center in Franklin, Ohio.

Represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the mailers had worked without a contract for about 10 years, Bryan said. When GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi was contacted about the unit, he, in turn, contacted IBT leaders who agreed to relinquish representation rights if the company recognized the GCIU or the GCIU won the right to represent the unit in a National Labor Relations Board election.

Bryan said Tedeschi's "enthusiasm and follow-up techniques were the first step to success."

The International assigned Organizer William E. Beresh to assist in the campaign, and Bryan said "his expertise and his hands-on involvement represents the second step."

Bryan said "about 90 percent of the credit" for the campaign goes to Local 128N Organizing Director Steve Peyton, who works in the pressroom at the Daily News. "He's a young, very committed unionist and he was absolutely committed to bringing these people into the GCIU," Bryan said.

Noting that Steve is Joe Peyton's nephew, Bryan said the family's "strong unionism is truly a heritage they can be proud of."

Also cited by Bryan was Kim Sousa of the International Organizing Department. He said Sousa quickly responded to supply needed organizing materials "that certainly introduced the common thread to pull this new unit together."

As the local proceeds with negotiations, Bryan said, he hopes that the Dayton Daily News will "operate with the experience of need, not with the experience of greed. We look forward to the kind of productive relationship for both the company and the workers in the mailroom that we have had for so many years in the pressroom."

Photo courtesy of Midwest Newspaper 128N

Midwest Newspaper 128N Dayton Mailroom Chapel members celebrate their victory at the Daily News. The local's victory was "in the cards" – the Cox newspaper agreed to forego a National Labor Relations Board election and recognize the union after 95 percent of the mailers signed cards requesting representation by the GCIU.