Lawmakers and officials from across Western Pennsylvania are speaking out against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s decision to cease operations in order to break the company’s union.
Block Communications made the decision to shutter the media outlet hours after the US Supreme Court denied the Post-Gazette’s attempt to appeal a decision from the US 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals forcing the company to reinstate health care benefits for striking journalists.
“Block Communications has utterly failed our region. In a span of days, it shuttered two legacy papers, the Pittsburgh City Paper and now the Post-Gazette. The PG is shutting down after workers fought for years for fair contracts and won, only to be pushed out again.” – US House Rep. Summer Lee (D-Allegheny)
“The Blocks have never been truly invested in this city, in their workers, or in the tremendous public value that this paper has provided for our communities. We value the work that all local news employees do to keep people informed and keep our communities connected, to uncover the truth and hold powerful people accountable.” – Darrin Kelly, President of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council
“The Block Family should be ashamed of themselves. They could have saved a ton of money if they just negotiated in good faith with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh from the beginning. It is absurd that they repeatedly blame workers for their failure to manage their own business.” – State Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny)
“Remember, this closure came after the paper’s owners spent millions fighting (and losing) a years-long strike by its workers. The decision to close the Post-Gazette is a travesty and makes worse the already bleak media landscape in Western Pennsylvania.” US House Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Allegheny)
