Union talks can proceed at paper

A federal agency has certified a contested union election at the Santa Barbara News-Press, where dozens of newsroom employees have either quit or been fired in the last year.

The National Labor Relations Board on Thursday unanimously rejected arguments by management that unfair organizing tactics were used during a September election in which newsroom employees voted 33 to 6 in favor of joining the Graphics Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The ruling means the union can bargain with the paper.