A union no more
Local 38016 of The Newspaper Guild lost the decertification election, 63-43. We fought hard to the end, but we couldn't overcome the financial enticements the company dangled in front of members--The Patriot-News essentially bought this election--and the irrational hatred of us by Nick Horvath's -company-pampered sports department. Or perhaps not so irrational: the sports department has long gotten special treatment from the company, allowed nearly unlimited travel when every other part of the newsroom was on an austerity budget. It was a long-term investment for the company and it paid off for them today. Yes, it was all perfectly legal in George W. Bush's America. After 72 years, a good and gentle union founded in the fervor of the New Deal in 1934 is no more. The worst part of this is knowing that colleagues lied to us about their support for the union. I'll be drinking myself blotto tonight.