FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attention:
From 2002 to 2009 the average weekly wage in Hawaii rose by 26%
From 2002 to 2009 the national inflation rate increased prices by 19%
From 2002 to 2010 employees at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald received raises of 0%
Why?
Q: Is the company going broke?
A: No. The Hawaii Tribune-Herald is owned by Las Vegas-based Stephens Media, which is owned by investment bank Stephens Inc., which is owned by Arkansas billionaire Warren Stephens. As he told Forbes Magazine in a September 2009 interview, “We are expanding. We’re really expanding in all areas of the firm. … (T)his is the time to do it and we’re plowing ahead. We’re going to keep doing it.”
Q: Has the recession impacted revenue at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald?
A: Sure, the newspaper has been affected. But the company has never claimed an inability to pay, only an unwillingness to pay a fair wage. When a pillar of the community like a newspaper is owned by an investment bank, the money flows in one direction, and the community is worse off for it. At least, that’s what the company wants.
Q: What are employees asking for?
A: The Hawaii Newspaper Guild, Local 39117, represents most of the employees in the advertising, business, circulation and editorial departments. Their requests are simple: A fair contract, nothing less. The company has dragged out the negotiation process for years by offering ridiculous package deals designed to weaken the union and insulting pay raises; their latest offer is a wage freeze. Most recently, it canceled the collective bargaining agreement in place since 2004. This provocative act means that either side can now lockout without notice or go on strike.
Q: What are employees doing about it?
The first task is to let the community know what is going on. The first round of post-contract negotiations will be this week Wednesday and Thursday. Employees will be doing informational picketing in front of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald building at 355 Kinoole Street on Wednesday, January 20th at noon-1pm and 4:30pm-5:30pm. The union is not on strike and people will not be interrupted from doing their business with the newspaper. Employees will be donating their personal time to hold signs and hand out leaflets.
Informational picketing at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald:
When: Wed January 20 noon-1pm and 4:30pm-5:30pm
Where: 355 Kinoole St., Hilo
Contact: Wayne Cahill, Hawaii Newspaper Guild Administrative Officer, 808-295-5656
Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/History/cewqtr_01072003.txt, http://www.bls.gov/ro9/qcewhi.htm, http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
