Striking writers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, represented by the Communication Workers of America’s Newspaper Guild (Newsguild-CWA), say they’re closer than ever to reaching a contract.
Attorneys representing the strikers say that, despite Trump’s sweeping executive orders since his inauguration last Monday, their case cannot be blocked from reaching a verdict.
“I think it’s kind of like anticipating Christmas,” Ed Blazina, a striking transportation writer for the Post-Gazette, said. “You know it’s coming, you know it’s gonna be good, but we’re not quite there yet.”
A representative for the Post-Gazette declined to comment on the matter.
Newsguild workers are at two separate points in their court battle for a contract: mailers, press operators and advertising employees are in court for a 10(j) injunction, which will be heard on Feb. 3. A 10(j) injunction, orchestrated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), relieves workers of a strike and allows for bargaining to continue while they return to work.
Striking journalists are a step further. The NLRB sought emergency injunctive relief for Post-Gazette strikers last December, forcing their case into federal court for enforcement. Attorneys for the strikers believe that, because their case is now in federal court, it will be near impossible for the Trump administration to interfere.
A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear their case in Philadelphia. If it rules in the workers’ favor it will force the Post-Gazette to restore their previous contract.
That contract expired in 2017.
“The NLRB does not bring forward these types of cases unless it believes very strongly that they’re going to win them,” Andrew Goldstein, a striking Post-Gazette reporter, said. “And we believe we have a rock solid case, and we are confident that we’re gonna pull through and have a victory that ends the strike and brings us back to the Post-Gazette.”
Beyond judicial progress, Post-Gazette strikers also saw financial relief last month. The New York Times Tech Guild, an affiliate of the Newsguild-CWA, made a donation of $114,000 to striking Post-Gazette workers.
The Tech Guild raised money during the lead-up and process of their eight-day strike in November, protesting stalled negotiations with the Times.
“It was a huge development, not just for us, but just in the world of labor,” Bob Batz, a striking feature writer and editor for the Post-Gazette, said.
“For one union to do that for, I don’t know if we’re maybe step-siblings or something [to them], but it was a very big gesture and very nice and very useful to us,” Batz said.
The striking journalists of the Post-Gazette have been on strike for almost 27 months, first beginning in October 2022. It became the longest on-going strike in the country in December.
