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The move by Greater Niagara Newspapers to consolidate production at a North Tonawanda location has had an unexpected consequence for the company -- a successful drive for the unionization of approximately 45 mail room employees at the new plant.
Over the past year, the company abandoned its printing and mail room operations at the Niagara Gazette and Lockport Union Sun & Journal as a cost-saving measure. Following at least two accidents at the new plant, worker's concerns prompted the union effort, according to Harold Rehm, president of the Buffalo-Niagara Typographical Union Number 9.
"There was minimal involvement by the union in this, it came from within," Rehm told the Reporter. "The main issues seem to be respect and dignity in the workplace. That plus safety." Money, Rehm said, was not a primary concern.
"The one thing I stressed in the one letter I sent out was that voting for the union would not necessarily result in higher wages," he said. "That didn't seem to be a big issue with them."
The vote in favor of the union was 28-12, Rehm added.
"That's quite a large margin," he said. "These workers are clearly looking to be more than just at-will employees."
Greater Niagara Newspapers, which also publishes papers in Medina and North Tonawanda, is owned by the Alabama-based Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.
Since the new plant opened earlier this year, readers and advertisers in Niagara Falls and Lockport have noticed a "redesign" that for the most part resulted in a smaller newspaper. Additionally, because of the new production schedule, on-time delivery has been erratic in the Falls and, in Lockport, where the paper comes out in the afternoon, the editorial deadline is a full 12 hours before the paper hits the streets.
Rehm said the union intends to begin work on behalf of its new members immediately.
"Our first negotiating meeting is scheduled for next week," he said. "The company has made it crystal clear they do not want a union there."