Disagreement among WSJ union leaders

The New York Observer’s Felix Gillette writes Monday that there is disagreement among the leaders that represent business journalists at The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and Marketwatch as Journal reporter Jim Browning sent out an e-mail Monday stating that the contract that the union leaders voted to accept this weekend is not the best contract that they could have gotten.

The e-mail that Browning sent stated, “This is not the best contract that we could have gotten. But the union board had little choice. Unfortunately, our union president concluded some weeks ago that there was no point in fighting further. Although he and I disagreed heatedly, I was unable to change his mind. As company negotiators realized where he stood, it became impossible for the bargaining team to win any further concessions.

“I told the union board on Saturday that this is the best contract we can get without stronger leadership at the top. It is not possible for us to fight against the company and the union president at the same time.

“The task you face now is to decide whether you can mount credible opposition to this deal. We can not fight for a better deal unless we are totally united and determined and prepared to take risks. That is not the case now.”

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