Protest Erupts as Union Battles N.Y. Daily News
About 200 employees at the Daily News’ Brooklyn printing plant attacked a bus carrying replacement workers after members of the drivers’ union walked out of the plant today, officials said.
The workers walked out at about 2:30 a.m. after their business agent, Seymour Goldstein, was ejected from the plant by management, said George McDonald, president of the Allied Printing Trades Council, a union umbrella group.
Police said a bus carrying replacement workers was attacked shortly after 3 a.m. by plant employees outside the printing plant. No injuries or arrests were reported, said Sgt. Tina Mohrmann, a police spokeswoman.
News employees were seen draining radiator fluid from delivery trucks. The Fire Department quickly put out a small fire set in the back of a News delivery truck. Another delivery truck was found gutted by fire.
Angry employees also blocked the street outside the plant with about 20 delivery trucks.
Employees represented by 10 unions at the Daily News have been working without a contract since March 31.
Heated negotiations have focused on management’s demands for changes in work rules that they say would give the newspaper control of its operations. The unions have said the News is trying to break them and is actually interested in either shutting down or selling the paper.
“This was an organized plan to lock us out,” Goldstein said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
