Union Response to Star-Ledger's Demand for 55 Percent Wage Cut From Workforce

MORGANVILLE, N.J., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is the official statement from Ed Shown, President of the Council of Star-Ledger Unions and Teamsters-GCC Local 8N in response to a letter from Richard Vezza, publisher of the Star-Ledger newspaper:

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"Star-Ledger publisher Richard Vezza's announcement that he will cease publication unless a settlement is reached with all the unions is another sad and pathetic attempt to pound all of our union brothers and sisters into a state of submission.

"Vezza speaks of a lack of meaningful negotiations, but when a company demands 55 percent of our entire wage package it is the company itself that reflects a lack of meaningful negotiation.

"In December 2012, the company gave the unions a 90-day deadline to meet their demands of a combined $9 million in cuts – an amount they said company officials said they would allegedly save by outsourcing. However, we believe that the company was never going to follow through on this threat.

"Our unions have done exhaustive studies of advertising revenues. The disparity between the company's numbers and our findings is compelling, to say the least. The company will not contest our figures, but still demands $9 million in cuts from its unionized workforce. 

"All of our unions are more than willing to negotiate a fair contract and do whatever we have to so that the Star-Ledger may remain a thriving newspaper in these challenging economic times. More than 300 people work as drivers, pressmen, warehouse and inventory employees at the paper, many of whom are New Jersey residents.

"The Star-Ledger is not only a compelling newspaper, but it has been the paper of record for more than 100 years and remains the pride of New Jersey. The unions look forward to settling their differences with the company so the Star-Ledger will remain a vital resource providing valuable news coverage to our state."

SOURCE Teamsters-GCC Local 8N