US agency to sue paper for firing reporters

The conflict-ridden Santa Barbara News-Press is to be sued by the National Labour Relations Board for firing eight reporters. The paper has been in a tense standoff with staff who voted overwhelmingly to unionise. Its owner, Wendy McCaw, has rejected the vote, but a labour board judge rejected management's challenge and criticised the "incendiary rhetoric" in its testimony. If the News-Press is found to have violated labour laws, it will have to reinstate the eight fired reporters and provide them with back pay. (Via New York Times)