Pittsburgh Post-Gazette union cites $0.4 billion in potential liabilities from new owner's hiring choices

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on October 29, alleging that the new owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette violated federal labor laws by excluding striking employees from the post-acquisition workforce. The dispute centers on how the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism managed the transition of staff following its spring purchase of the newspaper from the Block family.

The union claims the new ownership prioritized hiring newsroom employees who had crossed the picket line during the three-year strike, while sidelining veteran journalists who remained on strike. Joe Pass, the NewsGuild lawyer, stated that the company failed to hire individuals who were better suited for the roles and had longer tenures. He noted that some of the excluded employees included Pulitzer Prize winners.

Venetoulis conducted employee interviews earlier this year to determine the new staff structure. Natalie Duleba, a NewsGuild member and former union officer, recalled that the interviews lasted approximately 20 minutes each and were completed within a single day. Duleba said it was clear which applicants were strikers because they had not been working in the months prior to the ownership transfer.

The original strike was triggered by the Block family’s attempt to alter contract provisions during negotiations for a new agreement. Federal courts previously ruled that this move constituted an unfair labor practice. Now, the union argues that Venetoulis is unilaterally changing contract terms while a new agreement is being negotiated. Pass said the new owners imposed conditions on healthcare, sick leave, and job categories instead of restoring the pre-strike status quo.

Venetoulis has not responded to recent requests for comment regarding the complaint. The nonprofit has previously argued that its acquisition constitutes an asset sale rather than a full corporate purchase. In a published article in the Baltimore Banner, a paper also owned by Venetoulis, the organization stated that buying only the assets meant it was not required to assume the contracts of Block Communications. The union rejects this view, asserting that Venetoulis is a labor law successor bound by the existing union contract.

Pass described the transfer as a change in ownership of the same organization. He emphasized that there have been few material changes to the operation of the Post-Gazette. The NLB will now investigate the case to decide whether to issue a formal complaint. If a complaint is issued, the matter will proceed to trial. The union seeks to restore the contract’s status quo and reinstate the jobs of the strikers. Pass argued that long-term employees should not face discrimination solely because they participated in a strike.

The filing adds a new legal layer to the tension between the newspaper and its staff. The outcome will determine whether the pre-strike contract terms remain binding on the new owner or if Venetoulis can implement its preferred working conditions without formal union agreement.