CWA President Morton Bahr Blasts Seattle Newspapers: Bahr Condemns Threat to Replace Strikers; Hail

Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr blasted the publishers of Seattle's two newspapers for "engaging in a totally irresponsible ploy to coerce its striking workers instead of bargaining in good faith" to resolve the month-long walkout by 1,000 workers at the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"By announcing plans to permanently replace these employees just six days before Christmas, the publishers are throwing gasoline on an already volatile labor dispute and apparently are vying for a place in the union-busters' hall of fame," Bahr stated.

"The entire labor movement should be outraged at this cynical attempt to break the strike even as union and management negotiators have been holding intense meetings to bargain a settlement," he said.

Bahr hailed today's announcement by Director Richard Barnes of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service that he will personally take charge of mediating negotiations to end the strike. Barnes is traveling to Seattle today and will begin meeting with the parties tomorrow at 11 a.m. Pacific time.

Members of The Newspaper Guild-CWA Local 37082 began the walkout on November 21. The union represents journalists and composing room employees at both papers, which have separate ownership but traditionally bargain jointly with the union.

Linda Foley, international president of The Newspaper Guild and a CWA vice president, stated from Seattle: "We have been working very hard in meetings the last few days to try to resolve this dispute, but we simply haven't been able to get the publishers to put in writing the proposals that would end this strike."

The publishers' announced threat yesterday to replace the strikers "certainly isn't helpful, to say the least, in leading us toward a responsible dialogue and peaceful settlement," she noted.

Foley also said she was pleased with Director Barnes' personal involvement and said union negotiations were willing to bargain around the clock if necessary to reach an agreement.