Sonny

got this from Nippers.com

TEAMSTERS WITHDRAW THREE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CLAIMS AGAINST NEWS-PRESS; FOURTH CLAIM DISMISSED BY NLRB

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – December 11, 2006 – The Santa Barbara News-Press has been advised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that the Teamsters Union has agreed to withdraw three of the unfair labor practice charges they filed against the paper, after having been informed the NRLB found insufficient evidence to proceed on the charges. The NLRB dismissed a fourth claim brought by the union against the News-Press.

The process for handling unfair labor practice charges involves an in-depth investigation of the facts and a determination by the NLRB whether sufficient evidence exists to schedule a hearing. If the NLRB finds insufficient justification after its review, the charging party is offered a choice to withdraw the claim or have the agency issue a dismissal.

The Teamsters agreed to withdraw the three unfair labor practice charges that they filed against the paper, which are:

1) An allegation that the Employer unfairly discharged an employee

2) A claim that the Employer conducted an unlawful interview with an employee

3) An allegation that the Employer unlawfully changed work assignments

The fourth claim was an allegation by the Teamsters that the paper engaged in unlawful surveillance of employees. The NLRB made the decision that further proceedings were not warranted.

“We are encouraged that after a thorough investigation by the NLRB, these four baseless union claims were found to be without merit,” said David J. Millstein, general counsel for the Santa Barbara News-Press.

The NLRB also announced it will set a hearing date on the paper’s objections to the union election.

The continued Teamsters orchestrated publicity activities are intended to damage the paper’s current and future business relationships. The Teamsters’ ongoing campaign against the News-Press most recently included accelerated threatening behavior which forces the paper to file unfair labor practice charges against the union.

The News-Press believes that the barrage of intimidating tactics being played out in Santa Barbara against the paper have nothing to do with the newsroom employees at the News-Press. Such public displays highlight Teamster underlying motives to pacify and retain members to justify union dues at a time that union membership is declining.

“Missing from the debate thus far has been an examination of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters history,” said Sarah Longwell, director of communications for the non-profit Center for Union Facts in Washington D.C., “Four of the last eight presidents have been indicted. It has long been a poster child for corruption.”