By Susan Zachem

San Diego 432M's seven-year struggle for a fair contract for pressmen at the Union-Tribune is gaining fire from AFL-CIO Street Heat actions.

In March, more than 300 union members and their families picketed the Union-Tribune offices as the first action by the Street Heat Governance Committee of the San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council.

Photo by Beverly Dick

Above, the skunk mascot and young supporters of San Diego 432M demonstrate at the Union-Tribune offices to protest the newspaper's union-busting actions. Below, at the Joint North American Conference, leaders count $25,574 in contributions to help Local 432M. The donations were matched by the International. Counting contributions from left are: George Michael Parrish of Washington 538C, secretary-treasurer, Commercial Pressroom Unions Conference; and Boston 3N Secy.-Treas. Kevin M. Toomey, secretary-treasurer, and Local 3N Recording Secy. Frank Rak, recording secretary, Newspaper Conference.

Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

The local also has been handbilling major advertisers and at public forums to spread the word about the Union-Tribune's corporate greed.

GCIU Vice Pres. Lawrence Martinez, who is assisting Local 432M in its contract fight, praised the local's members for their strength and solidarity.

"All of the Union-Tribune's union-busting actions have not stifled their spirits nor their activities," Martinez said. "They continue their battle."

Martinez said unfair labor practice charges leveled by the regional National Labor Relations Board provide evidence of the newspaper's union-busting attempts and contempt for labor laws.

In an article he wrote for the area labor federation's "Labor Leader," Local 432M Fin. Secy. Jeffrey O. Alger said the Street Heat demonstration "was incredibly successful and an encouraging start to what is sure to be a very long and intense battle for a fair pressroom contract.

"We will never give up," Alger said. "They have the power, the money, and the lawyers, but we have something they can never take away – the truth. On this we will stand united and unafraid."

Alger said the local's bargaining relationship with the newspaper went smoothly with no strikes or slowdowns until seven years ago. That's when the Copley newspaper – despite record profits – began "cannibalizing the living standards of its own employees."

The Union-Tribune brought in "outsiders" from the Chicago Tribune and the notorious union-busting law firm, King and Ballow of Tennessee, and began the campaign to oust the unions.

Since then, Local 432M pressmen have not had a raise and, in fact, had their pay cut $40 a week, Alger said.

Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

Pres. John Finneran, front, and Fin. Secy. Jeff Alger of San Diego 432M queue to speak at the North American Newspaper Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Union-Tribune terminated contributions to the union pension fund. Some 40 of the local's newest members who are not vested stand to lose up to $5,000 of their own money by this action, Alger said.

Typical of union-busting campaigns, the local's officers and activists also came under personal attack.

Former local president Dave Rubi was fired when he suffered a job-related injury. After a three-year battle, Rubi recently returned to work under a decision by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Alger was suspended for five days for asking a safety question. He was suspended another five days for talking with a newspaper reporter after the article appeared. The chapel chairman, whose photo appeared in the same paper, was suspended the same night. A local executive board member who was physically assaulted by a supervisor was then terminated for insubordination.

Also typical, the newspaper declared an impasse after members rejected the paper's final offer. That offer included provisions to raise health insurance co-payments 10 times more than other employees at the paper pay and eliminate seniority and the eight-hour workday, among other takeaways. The paper then implemented these terms and conditions.

In addition to the assistance from the AFL-CIO's Street Heat actions, Local 432M members at the Union-Tribune have received help in picketing and handbilling from Los Angeles 404M members and assistance from other GCIU local unions.

The local is asking for help with phone calls to the Union-Tribune to voice support for a pressroom contract. Telephone (619) 299-3131 or (619) 299-2121.