Superior newspaper union authorized for a strike vote

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.businessnorth.com/kuws.asp?RID=2262

Story posted Tuesday at 11:03 a.m.

4/8/2008


A union with the Superior Daily Telegram has rejected a contract offer and has been authorized by its national headquarters to hold a strike vote. Danielle Kaeding reports.

The Superior Typographical Union received approval from the Communication Workers of America as the feelings on either side of the aisle remain the same. Negotiations between Superior’s Local 163 Union and Forum Communications—owners of the Superior Daily Telegram—are at a standstill. Union President Stan Loisel hopes this will get talks moving again. “So, we’re hoping now that they’ll realize that the union membership won’t just roll over. We do have the authorization to take a strike vote. We’re going to try to negotiate with the company here on the 16th and hopefully come to some sort of resolution on it.” Superior Daily Telegram Executive Editor Ron Brochu doubts either side will give. “Both sides are going to stand firm. We talked for 14 months, and I think this is about as close as we’re going to get. That’s my personal opinion. Given the financial condition of the newspaper industry, I don’t see us going much further.” Loisel says the union hasn’t decided at what point they may hold a strike vote. He says everyone is hoping to avoid a walk-out. “What other companies have bargained for in good faith with our union over the last 80 years, the Telegram or the people at Forum seem to just want to ignore that and do what they just want to do. They’re not really bargaining. They’re just dictating what they want and that’s it.” Brochu believes the company has presented more than a fair deal to the paper’s employees. There are 16 members of the union working at the Telegram in sales, graphics and news.