Cutbacks cause controversy at Contra Costa Times

The union representing employees with Dean Singleton’s Bay Area News Group are alleging staff cuts were retaliatory, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The Northern California Media Workers Guild filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board, concerned that the 13 percent staff reductions at the Contra Costa Times targeted union organizers.

The layoffs came two weeks after staff voted in favor of union representation at the Contra Costa Times, and includes several strong proponents of unionizing the Times’ 225 eligible employees.

Sara Steffens, who was voted chair of the paper’s bargaining unit, called her lay off retaliatory.

"They wanted to keep me from continuing to engage co-workers as we push for our first contract and they hoped this would send a message to scare people away from further union activity," she told the AP.

The company’s legal counsel called the charge “ridiculous.”

"The reporters laid off were in beats the papers did not believe they could continue to cover during the severe economic downturn they've had," said Marshall Anstandig.

Management "took a hard look at areas where there was overlap or redundancies," wrote Kevin Keane, editor of the Contra Costa Times, in a note to his staff.

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