Ex-reporter: Lee editor threatened to fire me for union talk

Letter to Romenesko

From ROBERT STRUCKMAN, AFL-CIO editorial and speech writer: As a former reporter at the Missoulian and the Billings Gazette (both wonderful jobs with great people) I have a special vantage from which to consider Lee Enterprises. I’m glad you drew attention to the layoff-and-bonus bullshit last week. In my own minor way, I did the same, posting a piece on my blog. Over the weekend, I felt compelled to add more, because the chain’s anti-employee policies go much deeper than most of us usually feel comfortable speaking about. Well, I thought hard about it, and I posted another item that includes the story of the day my editor—Mike McInally of the Missoulian and now a Lee publisher—threatened to fire me for talking to people about forming a union at the Missoulian. It’s a serious charge, and one I don’t make lightly. If you’re interested, you can read the piece here.

NOTE: I’ve invited McInally to comment. He’s now publisher and editor at Lee’s Corvallis Gazette-Times.

[On Friday, the Lee-owned North County Times informed Escondido city officials that the paper will be laying off 56 employees.]

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