Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh on strike: Day 2

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On Wednesday — Day 2 of the Newspaper Guild’s unfair labor practice strike against the Post-Gazette — our striking workers formed three separate picket lines as we continue our strike against the PG and the illegal working conditions its owners, the Blocks, have forced on all of us.

Striking Post-Gazette members are joined by three union brothers from IUE-CWA Local 22 outside the PG newsroom on the North Shore.

The first picket line was on the North Shore outside the PG newsroom, where the wind and rain didn’t dampen our spirits in the slightest.

Members of the Guild were joined by Connor Lewis from the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, who drove in from State College; NewsGuild of New York organizer Nolan Rosenkrans’ twin brother, Sean; and members of the Allegheny-Fayette County Labor Council.

Barbara Vancheri, former PG movie editor and Guild member, also came down to offer support and cookies from Carnegie Science Center. Voodoo Brewery, just across the street, sent over pizza later in the afternoon, and the worker who delivered them voiced support for our cause. And three union brothers from IUE-CWA Local 22 stopped by with handwarmers — and to pose for a quick photo with us!

Striking PG workers form a picket line outside the U.S. Steel Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh.

A group of about 10 formed a second line outside the U.S. Steel Tower, home of one of the PG’s biggest advertisers, UPMC, and spoke to community members in Downtown Pittsburgh about our mission to keep the PG strong.

Striking Guild member Gillian McGoldrick, left, is joined on her one-woman picket line in Harrisburg by Spotlight PA reporters and Philly NewsGuild members Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu and Angela Couloumbis.

And a third picket line outside the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg was led by a single Guild member, the phenomenal Gillian McGoldrick, who was joined in solidarity by three Spotlight PA reporters and NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia members.

Spotlight PA is also refusing to allow the PG to use its reporting during the strike. 

On social media, the outpouring of support has continued from labor unions and elected officials.

The Major League Baseball Players Association stands with us, and the United Steelworkers International Union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union have pulled advertising from the Post-Gazette.

Guild members will be picketing outside the PG’s North Shore newsroom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. We will also be in Market Square from noon until 2:30 p.m.

Come join us and stand in solidarity with our fight to win a fair contract for all our workers!