Teamsters, News-Press Trade Grievances
Complaints Lodged About Firing of Sportswriter, Anti-NP Campaigning
The Teamsters Union has filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board charging that the Santa Barbara News-Press terminated longtime sports writer Dennis Moran this past weekend because he is a member of the union’s bargaining team. The News-Press cited Moran’s failure to cover a charity golf tournament. The paper had filed grievances of its own, claiming that Teamster picketers have “illegally” urged customers not to patronize businesses that advertise in the News-Press. Teamster representatives deny the claim, saying that people passing out handbills, and not picketers, have issued such statements, a distinction that’s important under federal labor law regarding intimidation tactics. “They claim that by handing out balloons to children we’re engaging in intimidation tactics,” said Teamster attorney Ira Gottlieb.
