April 20, 2007
Newsroom Intimidation?
Friends,
As you have no doubt seen, our decision to decline voluntary video, radio and podcast assignments has had its effect. Management is rattled.
In a recent note, Paul Steiger decreed, with dubious legal authority, that these long-standing voluntary activities are now mandatory if your direct supervisor tells you to do them.
We disagree.
In fact, management's unilateral decree on these voluntary tasks, coming on the heels of our union-organized decision not to perform them, is a clear violation of our right to organize labor activities under federal law. The company's move also is illegal under the federal law that requires them to negotiate with the union before changing your job requirements.
So what do we do?
Starting today, our response is to stop appearing on all audio-visual media, unless we are paid or it was explicitly part of your job before this all began.
That means no more Good Morning America, no more Today Show, no more MSNBC, NPR, or other outside radio or TV. Management has recognized that these appearances are voluntary, so please turn them down in ALL instances.
We are also asking you to continue to say NO to Dow Jones video, radio and podcasts. In the great majority of cases, a simple "no thanks" has worked fine.
In a few instances, our members have been ordered by their direct supervisors to appear. We are not asking you to defy a direct order. But we are asking you to let your boss know that you will be appearing under protest.
What should you do if you're directed to do a video, radio or podcast appearance?
1. If the demand comes from someone outside your group, such as the WSJ Video or WSJ Radio group, you should politely decline as we have done over the last few weeks. They have no authority to demand anything, as management has acknowledged.
2. If your direct supervisor asks you to do one of these assignments, at first decline this clearly voluntary assignment. If the supervisor insists, say you will appear under heavy protest, and that the union will be filing a grievance and will take other legal actions on behalf of everyone affected. To be clear, don't do anything that will get you disciplined.
3. Most of us weren't hired for these specialized jobs, haven't been trained for them and are uncomfortable performing them with no training. Point this out and, if it makes sense, request training before you appear.
Please let IAPE know immediately when you receive such a request. You have a right under the law to have a union representative with you at a meeting with your editor.
Our actions in the past weeks are having an effect. Now we need to keep them up and find more ways to let management know the status quo is not sufficient.
There will be meetings in New York and the bureaus next week (day and time TBA) to discuss this issue as well as the broader progress in bargaining. In the meantime, phone one of us if you have any questions or if you get an order to appear.
Tom Lauricella, IAPE vice president
Jim Browning, bargaining committee chairman
Steve Yount, president, IAPE CWA 1096