Letter to members on the Ithaca Journal unit's fight for a contract

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Dear Brothers and Sisters.

We have enclosed the attached fact sheet regarding the Ithaca Journal's
treatment of its employees because everyone attending our April 5 meeting

agreed that trade unionists :needed more information about this situation.
Many of us thought we could get word to our memberships about their struggle

if their Union, the International Typographical Union supplied us all with

information, which they have done. The 24 newsroom employees at the Journal

have been without a contract since November. The rights they are fighting

for are so basic that it's hard to believe workers still have to fight

for them in 1984. Management is still refusing to grant the Union the right to
take grievances to arbitration! Management is still refusing to negotiate over
the issue of salary! Management of course is the Gannett chain with its
billions in assets. It's no wonder that labor doesn't get a fair shake in

the local press when we see how they treat their own employees. Support

for the ITU will be a topic of discussion at future Tompkins-Cortland Labor
Coalition meetings and it is important thet we start letting our members know
what the Journal is trying to do, so that:they will be ready to participate

in any activities we as a coalition might decide on in support of the Journal

employees. Thank you for your help in getting this information to your
members.

Acting Recording Secretary
Tompkins-Cortland Labor Coalition

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