Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 87

Citizens' Voice 25th Anniversary The Voice made history when its first edition hit the streets in October 1978 The fundamental issue was not economic; it was moral (a truth reinforced by the Rev. Jule Ayers' many guest columns in The Voice during the 1980s). Of course, not everyone agreed. And because the Times Leader began offering a good product at a low price, its circulation remained fairly strong. A David-and-Goliath competition SEE HISTORY, PAGE B38 Oct.

.6, 1978, The Voice received financial support from two of its unions, production support from the Wyoming Valley Observer, and strong advertising and sub-scription backing from local people. Enthusiastic public support has remained the cornerstone to The Voice's long-term success. Many residents said that they would never even consider buying "that other newspaper" even if it were offered free of charge. Establishing the Voice Striking workers have often created alternative papers; indeed, Wilkes-Barre's newspaper unions did so in 1954 during a six-month walkout. But The Citizens' Voice was no ordinary strike paper, for it has lasted longer than just about any other union-founded daily.

Actually established shortly before the strike commenced on nesses beginning in the late 1970s particularly the large conglomerates which essentially have sought to roll back the democratic gains made by workers since the New Deal of the 1930s. These companies moved to take over smaller companies, establish greater control, cut costs, and ultimately get rich quick. The problem was that labor unions stood in the way For the Professor Robert Wolensky, formerly from Trucksville and Swoyersville, teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has authored books dealing with the Agnes flood, the Knox disaster, and the Wyoming Valley garment workers. By Robert P.

Wolensky Special to The Citizens' Voice In his book, On Strike! Capital Cities and the Wilkes-Barre Newspaper Unions, Professor Thomas Keil of the University of Louisville (formerly of Forty Fort) wrote that the purchase of the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company by Capital Cities Communications, Inc. in 1978 "-ended an era ih local journalism. For the first time, ownership of Wilkes-Barre's major daily paper passed out of local hands, repeating a trend in communities across the United States." But not so fast! Wilkes-Barre became one of the very few cities that maintained a strong local hand in covering the news because of the daily paper you are now reading. I would like to offer a few thoughts on the 25tn Anniversary of the founding of The Citizens' Voice why the strike occurred, how the newspaper was formed, and what lessons the experience can teach. The strike The Wyoming Valley has wit- nessed many important industrial strikes including John Mitchell and the anthracite workers in 1902, and Min Mathe-son and the garment workers in 1958.

The strike initiated against Capital Cities by the four employee unions of the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company ijfSMJr Sv as it A a most part the companies won (and have been winning) as shades of the Old Deal (low wages, few benefits, little or no control) have re Wolensky turned. But in Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley the company didn't win. By all measures the strike was a bitter one. The workers despised the implication that they were dumb sons and daughters of coal miners who could not stand up to sophisticated managers. They reviled the company's use of Wackenhut guards, security fences, and video cameras.

Capital Cities' managers, for their part, couldn't understand the extreme reaction of the workers or the community's solidarity with them, which included the unwillingness of local officials and police to crack down on pickets. The public backed the strikers just as they had the minework-ers and garment workers before them. Citizens developed extraordinarily negative attitudes toward Capital Cities. Indeed, one observer wrote that the company was seen as a "blend of Jack the Riper and Charles Manson who has invaded this valley and taken it over by storm." In other words, this "outsider" had violated the moral sensibilities of the populace who followed their historical predilections by supporting the employees. CO CM of LU CQ CO U.ifif, JiufcT if MM I Ml ranks right up there with the most significant.

The unions did not have a wage disagreement, with the new owner. Rather they disagreed with the company's desire to reorganize the workplace and essentially break their unions. Capital Cities' strategies were typical of American busi- merue noRmnn The Place for Hit Beautiful Face Specializing In Individual Makeup Annliratirm with advance skin care makeup products. Let us show you how you can look. We teach you how.

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