Newspaper Guild Files Grievance Over “Dress Code”

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Last week, the Newspaper Guild ratified a two-year contract with Philadelphia Media Network and it seemed a new era of labor peace might be at hand at the company that owns the Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com.

This week, they’re feuding again. Over clothes.

The Guild — which represents journalists, ad staffers, and other support staff at the newspapers — said Wednesday it had filed a labor grievance against the company — over a “dress code” on workers that union leaders said had been unfairly imposed by management. “We believe that institution of such a code, without discussion and without the grandfathering in of employees of who have repeatedly violated the alleged code for decades, would be a change in work rules that was not negotiated,” Bill Ross, the Guild’s executive director, said in a memorandum to members. “We believe such a move would be a mandatory subject of bargaining.”

Management at PMN declined comment.

“Grievances are internal matters to be resolved between the Company and the Guild and, as such, we have no public response regarding this matter,” Keith Black, PMN’s vice president of human resources, said via email.

The dispute started with a “friendly reminder” sent out by management last week under the subject heading “Summer Dress Code”:

“With the official start of summer, it’s an ideal time to remind everyone that, as employees, it is important we exhibit the look that confirms our Company’s professionalism and respect to our customers, readers, colleagues and general public. Please take pride in your personal appearance and dress appropriately at all times. Examples of inappropriate work apparel include: shorts, tank tops, midriff shirts, ripped jeans, sweat pants, spandex, halter tops/dresses, beach sandals/flip-flops and baseball caps.”

Ross said company management is “tone deaf to the realities of the work place.”

“Tat employees who work nights, work outside in the heat, lug around heavy photo equipment in the sun or stare at computer screens all day under the glare of lighting issues the Company has refused to address since we moved to 801 Market, should suddenly be held to the same standards of proper office attire as employees who meet with clients or sources, is ridiculous, counter-productive and a terrible way to start the new era of cooperation we hoped the new contracts would bring,” he wrote.

No word on when the grievance will be resolved.

The memos below. First, from company management:

Just a friendly reminder…

With the official start of summer, it’s an ideal time to remind everyone that, as employees, it is important we exhibit the look that confirms our Company’s professionalism and respect to our customers, readers, colleagues and general public. Please take pride in your personal appearance and dress appropriately at all times. Examples of inappropriate work apparel include: shorts, tank tops, midriff shirts, ripped jeans, sweat pants, spandex, halter tops/dresses, beach sandals/flip-flops and baseball caps.

Any questions about attire should be discussed directly with your manager. As always, thank you for your cooperation.

Human Resources Department

And from the Guild:

Subject: GUILD BULLETIN: AS ROME BURNS, DON’T WEAR SHORTS

The Guild filed a grievance today regarding the company’s institution of a “dress code” nobody knew about printed in a handbook nobody’s seen.

As the Company has told the Guild that repeated violations of the “dress code” could result in disciplinary action, we believe that institution of such a code, without discussion and without the grandfathering in of employees of who have repeatedly violated the alleged code for decades would be a change in work rules that was not negotiated. We believe such a move would be a mandatory subject of bargaining. The Company just finished eight months of bargaining and never mentioned a dress code once and waited until the day of Philly.com’s ratification vote to bring it up for the first time.

That the Company , in correspondence with Bill Ross and Howard Gensler throughout the day, would continue to stress the importance of a dress code without any adjustments for people’s jobs, continues to show how tone deaf they are to the realities of this workplace. That employees who work nights, work outside in the heat, lug around heavy photo equipment in the sun or stare at computer screens all day under the glare of lighting issues the Company has refused to address since we moved to 801 Market, should suddenly be held to the same standards of proper office attire as employees who meet with clients or sources, is ridiculous, counter-productive and a terrible way to start the new era of cooperation we hoped the new contracts would bring.

We will keep you posted. In the meantime, we urge you to dress in the same professional manner that was acceptable to Knight-Ridder, Brian Tierney, Angelo Gordon and Lewis Katz and George Norcross.

In Solidarity,
Bill Ross, Executive Director
The Executive Board of the Newspaper Guild/CWA 38010