The 171 delivery drivers, reporters, photographers, copy editors, and secretaries walked out November 16, the day after their contract expired. They had been working under a wage freeze for four years. The union said about half of the local’s membership make less than $9 per hour. Another 25 members of the Teamsters, which organizes the mailers, are honoring the picket line.

The company’s offer was a 1 percent pay increase in each of two years and a 2 percent raise the final year of the contract, with a floor of 10 cents per hour for the lowest paid. For the lowest-paid workers, the pay increase wouldn’t even cover the cost of parking in the pay lots owned by the newspaper. In addition, the company is trying to increase Guild members’ share of insurance premiums to 15 percent, while proposing that new employees pay 25 percent.

“The major issues are a period of time that health premiums wouldn’t be paid by Guild members,” said Tony Markota, president of Local 34011. “Then, proper staffing of swing persons to eliminate overtime; status quo language as far as vehicles are concerned; and, finally, a fair wage scale.”

“A couple of Friday’s ago when it was snowing, a couple pulled up and offered the picketers coffee and hot chocolate. They were nurses,” explained Cioffi who was on picket duty that day. Cioffi said the strikers have received solidarity—in the form of money, canned goods, wood, and warm drinks—from many unions.

The strikers have launched a weekly newspaper, The Valley Voice. The paper covers their strike as well as local and international news. Local 34011 is urging working people and others in support to cancel their subscriptions to The Vindicator and subscribe to The Valley Voice. Donations and cards in support can be sent to: Newspaper Guild Local 34011, P.O. Box 1135, Youngstown, OH 44501.  
 
 
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