Post-Gazette employees to end byline strike after 1 month

Unionized journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday will end a month-long byline strike protesting what the union has described as a hostile work environment.

Members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents about 140 employees at the Post-Gazette, began withholding names from all stories, columns, photos and graphics on Nov. 20, days after holding an unprecedented “no confidence” vote in their executive editor, publisher and parent company, Block Communications Inc.

Guild President Michael A. Fuoco said the strike was successful and is ending after a month because “our message of mistreatment at the Post-Gazette is now known locally and throughout the country.”

Tracey DeAngelo, the Post-Gazette’s chief marketing officer, declined comment.

“We never thought that our byline strike would cause owners Block Communication Inc. to end their despicable tactics of denying talented journalists a raise for 14 years, slashing our health care during three years of bad-faith bargaining and creating a toxic environment of fear, intimidation and retribution in the newsroom,” Fuoco said. “What the byline strike showed in vivid detail is that we 140 journalists in the Guild are the heart and soul of this 233-year-old newspaper and without us there is no Post-Gazette.”

Newspaper employees withheld a total of 1,406 bylines from print and digital publications through Sunday, an average of 54 per day, according to the guild.

Fuoco said the union received 100% participation. Other guild members, including page designers, web and copy editors, librarians and clerks, showed support by wearing buttons saying “I Support the Byline Strike,” he said.

“We ended the byline strike because it was effective, and there was no reason to continue it,” said Fuoco, a 35-year PG employee. “That doesn’t indicate any pulling back of our commitment in fighting back. We’re not going to cease until they cease.”