Gannett Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Feb 20, 2001

333 N.L.R.B. 355 (N.L.R.B. 2001)

GANNETT CO. 355
Gannett Co., Inc. and American Federation of Televi-
sion and Radio Artists, Local No. 225, AFL–
CIO. Case 21–CA–32086
February 20, 2001
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN TRUESDALE AND MEMBERS
HURTGEN AND WALSH
On November 19, 1998, Administrative Law Judge
Joan Wieder issued the attached decision. The Respon-
dent filed exceptions and a supporting brief, and the
General Counsel filed an answering brief.
The National Labor Relations Board has delegated its
authority in this proceeding to a three-member panel.
The Board has considered the decision and the record
in light of the exceptions and briefs and has decided to
affirm the judge’s rulings, findings, and conclusions1 and
to adopt the recommended Order.2
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board adopts the rec-
ommended Order of the administrative law judge as
modified below and orders that the Respondent, Gannett
Co., Inc., San Diego, California, its officers, agents, suc-
cessors, and assigns, shall take the action set forth in the
Order as modified.
1. Substitute the following for paragraph 2(b).
“(b) Pay the employees represented by the Union in
units A and B their normal wages when in the Respon-
dent’s employ on December 9, 1996 from 5 days after
the date of this decision until the occurrence of the earli-
est of the following conditions: (1) the date the Respon-
dent bargains to agreement with the Union on those sub-
jects pertaining to the effects of the sale or other transfer
of its assets and operations at Radio Station KSDO; (2)
the date a bona fide impasse in bargaining occurs; (3) the
failure of the Union to request bargaining within 5 busi-
ness days after receipt of this decision, or to commence
negotiations within 5 business days after receipt of the
Respondent’s notice of its desire to bargain with the Un-
ion; or (4) the subsequent failure of the Union to bargain
in good faith; but in no event shall the sum paid to any of
the employees exceed the amount he or she would have
earned as wages from December 9, 1996, to the date the
Respondent shall have offered to bargain; provided,
however, that in no event shall this sum be less than
these employees would have earned for a 2-week period
at the rate of their normal wages on December 9, 1996,
with interest, as set forth in the remedy portion of this
decision.”

1 Member Hurtgen agrees that Respondent was obligated to give no-
tice to the Union upon the FCC’s approval of the sale on December 9.
Respondent’s failure to do so was unlawful. Member Hurtgen recog-
nizes that the implementation occurred promptly after the FCC ap-
proval. Thus, even if notice had been given, there would have been
little time for “effects” bargaining prior to implementation. However,
Member Hurtgen also notes that: (1) the Union could have sought bar-
gaining, or at least information, when its Executive Director read the
news item on September 26; (2) although “effects” bargaining is gener-
ally more effective prior to implementation, there is no necessity that
such bargaining be completed by the time of implementation.
2 We will modify the order to provide that the Union is required to
request desired bargaining within 5 days after “receipt” of this Deci-
sion, or to commence negotiations within 5 business days after receipt
of the Respondent’s notice of its desire to bargain with the Union. See
Melody Toyota, 325 NLRB 846 (1998).
2. Substitute the attached notice for that of the admin-
istrative law judge.

APPENDIX
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government

The National Labor Relations Board has found that we vio-
lated the National Labor Relations Act and has ordered us to
post and abide by this notice.

Section 7 of the Act gives employees these rights.
To organize
To form, join, or assist any union
To bargain collectively through representatives
of their own choice
To act together for other mutual aid or protection
To choose not to engage in any of these protected
concerted activities.

WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to bargain with the
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists,
Local 225, AFL-CIO, concerning the effects upon our
employees represented by the this Union of our decision
to sell Radio Station KSDO, in San Diego, California.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere
with, restrain, or coerce you in the exercise of the rights
guaranteed you by Section 7 of the Act.
WE WILL, on request, bargain collectively with the
Union as the exclusive bargaining representative of all
staff announcers, newspersons, freelance performers,
producers, writers, directors, editors, and call screeners
employed at KSDO on December 9, 1996, and reduce to
writing any agreement reached as a result of such bar-
gaining.
WE WILL pay the employees represented by the Un-
ion in units A and B their normal wages when in the Re-
spondent’s employ on December 9, 1996, from 5 days
after the date of this decision until the occurrence of the
earliest of the following conditions: (1) the date the Re-
333 NLRB No. 44
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 356
spondent bargains to agreement with the Union on those
subjects pertaining to the effects of the sale or other
transfer of its assets and operations at Radio Station
KSDO; (2) the date a bona fide impasse in bargaining
occurs; (3) the failure of the Union to request bargaining
within 15 business days after receipt of the Respondent’s
notice of its desire to bargain with the Union; or (4) the
subsequent failure of the Union to bargain in good faith;
but in no event shall the sum paid to any of the employ-
ees exceed the amount he or she would have earned as
wages from December 9, 1996, to the date the Respon-
dent shall have offered to bargain; provided, however,
that in no event shall this sum be less than these employ-
ees would have earned for a 2-week period at the rate of
the normal wages on December 9, 1996, with interest, as
set forth in the remedy portion of this decision.

GANNETT CO., INC.

John Kloosterman, Esq., for the Acting General Counsel.
Joyce T. Bailey, Esq., of Arlington, Virginia, for the Respon-
dent.
Thomas W. Doyle, of San Diego, California, for the Charging
Party.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
JOAN WIEDER, Administrative Law Judge. This case was
tried on a stipulated record based on a motion filed July 31,
1998,1 by all parties reflecting their agreement exhibits attached
to the motion constitute the entire record. The American Fed-
eration of Television and Radio Artists, Local 225, AFL–CIO
(the Union or Charging Party) filed the charge, on June 9,
against Gannett Co., Inc. (Respondent). The Regional Director
for Region 20, issued a complaint and notice of hearing on
January 22, 1998, which was amended July 1, 1998, alleging
Respondent violated Section 8(a)(1) and (5) of the National
Labor Relations Act (the Act). In general, the complaint asserts
Respondent sold a radio station without appropriate prior notice
to the Union and without affording the Union an opportunity to
bargain about the effects on this decision on the represented
employees.
Respondent’s timely filed answer to the complaint, admits
certain allegations, denies others, and denies any wrongdoing.
Specifically Respondent denies it failed to inform the Union
and denies the matter relates to wages, hours and other terms
and conditions of employment. Respondent admits timely ser-
vice of the charge, the complaint, and, the amendment to the
complaint. For the reasons stated hereinafter, Respondent’s
motion to dismiss the complaint should be and is denied.
All parties were given full opportunity to appear and intro-
duce evidence, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, to
argue orally, and to file briefs.

1 All dates are in 1996 unless otherwise indicated.
Based upon the entire record, and having considered the
posthearing briefs, I make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
Based on Respondent’s answer to the complaint and the Par-
ties stipulations, I find Gannett meets one of the Board’s juris-
dictional standards and the Union is a statutory labor organiza-
tion.
II. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Background
Respondent, at all relevant times, is a national news and in-
formation company with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
Prior to December 9, 1996, Respondent owned radio station
KSDO (radio station or KSDO) in San Diego, California. Susan
Hoffman has been the vice president/general manager of the
radio station and an admitted agent of Respondent. Gary
DeFrancesco has been the president of Gannett Radio and is an
admitted agent.
The Charging Party has been the collective-bargaining repre-
sentative of a unit of staff announcers, newspersons, and free-
lance performers at the radio station since at least 1959, (unit
A). Pursuant to an election on or about October 26, 1989, the
Union was certified as the collective-bargaining representative
of additional radio station employees including; producers,
writers, directors, editors and call screeners (unit B). Respon-
dent admits the Union is the collective-bargaining representa-
tive of both units A and B since about October 26, 1989.
The collective-bargaining agreement covering unit A expired
January 31, 1988. Pursuant to an impasse, on or about April 26,
1988, Respondent implemented the terms and conditions of
employment contained in its last, best and final offer. The Par-
ties agreed these terms and conditions of employment are to be
read in conjunction with the collective-bargaining agreement
for unit A. unit A members, since about April 26, 1988, have
worked under these terms and conditions, with the exception of
some unit employees who have entered into personal services
contracts with Respondent, with the Union’s consent, which
governs some of these excepted employees terms and condi-
tions of employment. Respondent and the Union engaged in
negotiations for a collective-bargaining agreement covering
unit B employees between early 1991 and March 1994. Re-
spondent and the Union failed to reach an agreement and unit B
employees’ terms and conditions of employment have been
governed by Respondent’s employee handbook and by past
practice since about October 26, 1989.
On about September 26, 1996, Respondent entered into an
agreement to acquire WTSP-TV, the CBS television outlet in
Tampa Florida, from Jacor Communications, Inc. (Jacor), in
exchange for certain radio stations, including KSDO. On or
about the same day, Respondent issued a news release. As per-
tinent, the new release provided:

Gannett Co., Inc. had entered into an agreement to ac-
quire WTSP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Tampa, from Jacor
Communications, Inc., in exchange for KIIS AM/FM, Los
Angeles, KSDO-AM/KKBH-FM, San Diego and WDAR-
GANNETT CO. 357
AM/WUSA-FM, Tampa . . . The transaction is subject to
FCC approval.2

Also on September 26, 1996, the announcement was re-
ported by national wire services, including the Dow Jones
News and Reuters, who indicated Jacor agreed to swap its
Tampa station for six of Respondent’s radio stations, including
KSDO. About the same date, Thomas W. Daily, the Union’s
executive director, read about the transaction in the San Diego
Union-Tribune, a major daily newspaper.3 The newspaper story
contained the information provided in the news release, includ-
ing, as a condition precedent to the sale, the Federal Communi-
cations Commission (FCC) had to approve the transaction.
Between September 26 and December 9, 1996, KSDO em-
ployees learned the station was going to transferred from Re-
spondent to Jacor if the FCC permitted. The FCC approved the
transaction on December 9, 1996. On the same day, Respon-
dent transferred ownership of KSDO to Jacor. Also on Decem-
ber 9, by letters on Gannett letterhead, Respondent informed its
KSDO employees it had transferred ownership of the station to
Jacor effective that date. The letters were signed by
DeFrancesco.
Respondent did not directly communicate verbally or in writ-
ing, with the Union prior or subsequent to December 9, to no-
tify the Union about the sale of KSDO to Jacor. The Union did
not request to bargain with Respondent over the effects of the
sale before or after December 9, 1996. Respondent continued to
make health and pension contributions to the Union trust funds
for the employees in unit A through the end of December 1996.
Respondent was never required to make health and pension
contributions to the Union trust funds for the employees in unit
B.
Analysis and Conclusions
1. Positions of the parties
The decision to sell KSDO is not a mandatory subject of
bargaining under Section 8(a)(5) of the Act. However, as Re-
spondent admits, the law requires an employer provide an op-
portunity to the Union to bargain over the effects of its sale of
KSDO on employees in the bargaining unit, citing Transmarine
Navigation Corp., 380 F.2d 933, 939 (1967); NLRB v. Rapid
Bindery, Inc., 293 F.2d 170, 176 (1961); Merryweather Optical
Co., 240 NLRB 1213 (1979). Respondent also concedes inher-
ent in this obligation is an opportunity for the Union to bargain
in a meaningful manner and at a meaningful time. First Na-
tional Maintenance Corp. v. NLRB, 452 U.S. 666, 681 (1981).
Respondent claims it complied with the notice requirement
when Doyle read the newspaper article in September. Respon-
dent argues that once the Union learned of the proposed sale the
Union then has the burden to timely request bargaining. Ven-
tura County Star-Free Press, 279 NLRB 412, 420 (1986). Ac-
cording to Respondent, the Union’s failure to request bargain-
ing about the effects of the announced sale constitutes a waiver

2 Approval by the Federal Communications Commission was a con-
dition precedent to effecting the transaction.
3 The Parties could not find a copy of this newspaper article but
Thomas Doyle, the Union’s executive director, admitted he read the
article sometime in late September 1996.
by inaction. Associated Milk Producers, 300 NLRB 561, 563
(1990);4 WPIX, Inc., 299 NLRB 525, 526–527 (1990); NLRB v.
C&C Plywood, 585 U.S. 421, 430–31 (1967); Crystal Springs
Sheet Corp., 637 F.2d 399, 402 (5th Cir. 1981).
Respondent further declares special circumstances existed
which privileged its action under Metropolitan Teletronics, 279
NLRB 957 fn. 14 (1986), enfd. mem. 819 F.2d 1130 (2d Cir.
1987); Williamette Tug & Barge Co., 300 NLRB 282 (1990).
The Union’s failure to request bargaining about the effects of
the sale for more than two months “is precisely the kind of case
that the Board should interpret as warranting an exception to
the general rule” requiring preimplementation notice to satisfy
Respondent’s obligation to bargain over the effects of the sale.
Moreover, Respondent argues, it should not be subject to the
Transmarine Navigation, remedy because Respondent issued
the press release which led to the Union acquiring knowledge
of the proposed sale more than 2 months prior to the effective
date of the sale.
The General Counsel argues Respondent had an obligation to
bargain about the effects of its sale decision. First National
Maintenance v. NLRB, 452 U.S. at 681–682. If the Union is
given timely notice of the decision, then the Union must request
bargaining about the effects of the decision. Jim Walters Re-
sources, 289 NLRB 1441 (1988). Presenting the Union with a
fait accompli is not timely notice. Penntech Papers v. NLRB,
706 F.2d 18, 26 (1st Cir. 1983); Los Angeles Soap Co., 300
NLRB 289 (1990).
Respondent did not have to incorporate in its sales agreement
the condition precedent of FCC approval. Compact Video Ser-
vices, 319 NLRB 131, 141 fn. 69 (1995). The General Counsel
argues, timely notice of the sale is after the condition precedent
of FCC approval had been met for to request and require bar-
gaining at an earlier date would be pointless. The notice obliga-
tion was triggered by the FCC’s approval of the transaction.
Willamette Tug & Barge Co., supra; Oklahoma Fixture Co.,
314 NLRB 958 (1994) (The Board determined the obligation to
give notice of the proposal to the union was triggered when the
timing and circumstances of the action were clear, not when the
announcement was “inchoate and imprecise”).
2. Conclusions
It is undisputed Respondent was obligated to bargain over
the effects of the sale of KSDO. In this case, the question is
whether the Union received appropriate and timely notice. Sec-
tion 8(a)(5) and (d) of the Act requires employers to bargain
with its employees’ appropriate representatives in good faith
regarding “wages, hours and other terms and conditions of
employment.” NLRB v. Borg-Warner Corp., 356 U.S. 342
(1958); Fiberboard Corp. v. NLRB, 379 U.S. 203 (1964). The
employer is also required to notify and consult with the union
about such changes prior to implementing such changes. NLRB
v. Katz, 369 U.S. 736 (1962). The prior notice must afford the
union a reasonable opportunity to evaluate the proposals and
present counter proposals before implementing such change.
4 In Associated Milk Producers, the employer specifically gave the
union timely notice of the proposed change in terms and conditions of
employment. For the reasons discussed here, I find Respondent has not
met these obligations.
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 358
Sunrise Nursing Home, 325 NLRB 380 (1998); M & M Con-
tractors, 262 NLRB 1472 (1982). I find the Union did not re-
ceive adequate and timely notice. The notice, to be timely, must
be given sufficiently in advance of the proposed change to
permit the union a reasonable opportunity to bargain. Ladies
Garment Workers (McLaughlin Mfg. Corp.) v. NLRB, 463 F.2d
907 (D.C. Cir. 1972); Medicenter Mid-South Hospital, 221
NLRB 670 (1975). Informing a union of a fait accompli does
not constitute timely notice. NLRB v. R. H. Belo Corp., 411
F.2d 959 (5th Cir. 1969); cert. denied 396 U.S. 1007 (1970).
In those instances where a union receives timely notice of an
employer’s proposal to change a term and condition of em-
ployment, the union must promptly request bargaining about
the matter. Haddon Craftsmen, 300 NLRB 789 (1990); Jim
Walter Resources, 289 NLRB 1441 (1988). Where the notice is
given shortly prior to implementation of the change because of
a lack of intent to alter its position, then the notice is merely
informational about a fait accompli and fails to satisfy the re-
quirements of the Act. Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceutical Division,
264 NLRB 1013 (1982).
As the Board held in Willamette Tug & Barge Co., supra at
282–283:

The sale of a business does not depend just on the
seller’s desire to sell. The sale of a business to a purchaser
necessarily requires the purchaser’s assent to the terms of
the sale before the sale actually takes place. Even after the
purchaser and seller agree on the terms, significant contin-
gencies may remain. These may include the purchaser’s
obtaining financing and nonroutine governmental clear-
ances and approvals. Until these contingencies are satis-
fied, the seller may not be able to say with any degree of
assurance that the sale will go through.
. . . .
Although we agree with the Respondent that the deci-
sion to sell did not occur until the execution of a binding
agreement to sell, we find a violation in the Respondent’s
failure to provide any meaningful prior notice to the Union
that it was ceasing business and terminating employees. If
a seller and a purchaser can be expected to negotiate
about, and draft their agreement to provide for satisfaction
of, various contingencies such as governmental clearances,
so, too, should they be able to account for the human fac-
tor—the employees’ interest in having their designated
representative notified and given an adequate opportunity
to bargain about the effects of the sale. That circumstances
may compel confidentiality in arriving at a sales agree-
ment does not obviate the employer’s duty to give pre-
implementation notice to the union to allow time for ef-
fects-bargaining3 provision for which may be negotiated in
the sales agreement.4 We do not presume here to advise
corporate negotiators how to accommodate the right of a
union to negotiate the effect of the sale on the employees it
represents. We merely decide that, barring particularly un-
usual or emergency circumstances, the union’s right to
discuss with the employer how the impact of the sale on
the employees can be ameliorated must be reckoned with
(as must compliance with other governmental require-
ments) sufficiently before its actual implementation so that
the union is not confronted at the bargaining table with a
fait accompli. Thus, the Union here was entitled [to] as
much notice of the closing and termination of employees
as was needed for meaningful bargaining at a meaningful
time. First National Maintenance Corp. v. NLRB, 452
U.S. 666, 681–682 (1981); Metropolitan Teletronics, 279
NLRB 957, 959 fn. 14 (1986), enfd. mem. 819 F.2d 1130
(2nd Cir. 1987) [footnote omitted].
_______________________________________________________________
3 For the purposes of the above analysis, the term “implementation”
refers to the actual physical consequences of the sales decision, i.e.,
the termination of the enterprise and the employees.
4 Nothing in this discussion should be read to preclude an employer
from being able to fulfill its effect-bargaining obligations in advance
of sale, either by negotiating appropriate provisions in a collective-
bargaining agreement or by specific negotiations prior to such a sale.

While in the instant case Respondent did not argue the decision
to sell did not occur until the execution of a binding agreement,
the reasoning in the Willamette Tug & Barge Co. decision still
obtains. The agreement to sell, according to the stipulations, did
not become binding until after the FCC approved the proposal.
The stipulations are silent concerning the possibility of the
FCC imposing terms and conditions on the sale different than
those contained in the agreement. There is a possibility the FCC
could have required alterations in the sales agreement, which
would have altered the concerns of the Union and the Union’s
bargaining posture. The sales agreement was not introduced
into evidence. There is no predicate to conclude the condition
precedent did not have to be met to create a binding sales
agreement. Thus, there is no basis to find the Respondent and
Union could have engaged in meaningful and knowledgeable
effects bargaining prior to the FCC’s approval of the sale based
solely on the press release. Thus, there is no predicate to find
the notice of the proposed sale in the news media was sufficient
notice at a meaningful time with sufficient information to en-
gage in meaningful negotiations. Id.
There is no claim an emergency or other unusual circum-
stances required implementation of the sales agreement the
same day Respondent and the buyer received FCC approval of
the sale. Respondent argues the news release constituted a spe-
cial circumstance. I find this argument unpersuasive. Respon-
dent admits the issuance of a press release announcing the pro-
posed sale “would not in and of itself satisfy the notice obliga-
tion.” There is no claim the news release presented any of the
details of the sale other than the condition precedent of FCC
approval.
While Respondent claims the news release gave notice the
sale was imminent, I find the record does not support this
claim. There was no stipulation concerning how long FCC
approval takes in similar circumstances. The record indicates it
took the FCC more than two months to grant approval. There is
no showing if such approval modified the terms of the sales
agreement. There is no evidence the Union should have known
the sale could or did result in the termination of unit employees.
There is no evidence Respondent gave the Union meaningful
information at a time when the Union retained any bargaining
power. There was no evidence an emergency or other exculpa-
GANNETT CO. 359
tory circumstances required effecting the sale the same day the
FCC gave its approval. Genesee Family Restaurant, 322 NLRB
219 (1996). I conclude Respondent failed to meet its burden of
demonstrating “particularly unusual or emergency circum-
stances” that would relieve it of the obligation to provide the
Union with effective notice. Willamette Tug & Barge Co., su-
pra; Compact Video Services, 319 NLRB 131 fn. 1 (1995).
Respondent has failed to present persuasive argument sup-
porting its claim the press release presents “the kind of case that
the Board should interpret as warranting an exception to the
general rule.” Respondent has failed to demonstrate such an
exception is warranted under the circumstances of this case,
where there was no emergency or other factors warranting re-
lieving Respondent of its obligation to give the Union meaning-
ful notice at a meaningful time. The Union was presented with
a fait accompli. Once the terms of the sales agreement had been
met, i.e., FCC approval received, the sale was immediately
implemented without any opportunity afforded the Union to
determine if it wished to request effects bargaining. There is no
showing the Union had sufficient information to engage in a
reasonable analysis of the proposed sale and determine whether
to request effects bargaining. Under the circumstances pre-
sented in this case, I find the union did not waive the right to
bargain about the effects of the sale of Respondent. The Board
will not lightly infer waivers of statutory rights. In Rockwell
International Corp., 260 NLRB 1346, 1347 fn. 6 (1982), the
Board stated:

Where, as here, an employer relies on a purported waiver to
establish it freedom unilaterally to change terms and condi-
tions of employment not contained in the contract, the matter
at issue must have been fully discussed and consciously ex-
plored during negotiations and the union must have con-
sciously yielded or clearly and unmistakably waived its inter-
est in the matter.

I find the Union did not waive its statutory right to bargain
about the effects of the sale of KSDO. Accordingly, I conclude
Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act by sell-
ing it operation without giving the Union adequate notice and
an opportunity to bargain over the effects of its sale of the busi-
ness.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Respondent, Gannett Co., Inc., is an employer engaged in
commerce within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of
the Act.
2. American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Lo-
cal 225, AFL–CIO, is a labor organization within the meaning
of Section 2(5) of the Act.
3. At all times material herein, the Union has been the exclu-
sive collective-bargaining representative of the Respondent’s
employees in units A and B composed of all staff announcers,
newspersons, freelance performers, producers, writers, direc-
tors, editors, and call screeners employed at KSDO.
4. On or about December 9, 1996, Respondent failed to
timely notify and bargain with the Union about the effects of
the sale of its radio station KSDO, thereby engaging in unfair
labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act.
REMEDY
Having found the Respondent has engaged in certain unfair
labor practices, I recommend that it be ordered to cease and
desist therefrom and take certain affirmative action to effectu-
ate the policies of the Act.
Since Respondent has no appropriate local place of business
to post a notice to employees of KSDO regarding violations
and remedy, I recommend that Respondent be ordered to mail
signed copies of the notice to the Union and to all of Respon-
dent’s employees represented by the Union and employed as of
December 9, 1996. Benchmark Industries, 269 NLRB 1096,
1099 (1984); Excel Container, Inc., 325 NLRB 17 (1997).
General Counsel requests, as the appropriate remedy, that
provided for in Transmarine Navigation Corp., 170 NLRB 389
(1968), for the Union may have been able to secure “additional
benefits for employees had the Respondent engaged in timely
effects bargaining,” such as severance pay, pension fund pay-
ments, letters of reference, and health insurance. Live Oak
Skilled Care & Manor, 300 NLRB 1040 (1990); Los Angeles
Soap, supra, 300 NLRB at 295. Respondent avers its press re-
lease, which gave the Union knowledge of the pending sale,
should absolve Respondent of liability and the Transmarine
Navigation remedy would be inappropriate.
Where, as here, the sale occurred years ago “the Union can
hardly hope to obtain the same benefits from bargaining that
might have helped ease the unit employees’ transition into their
employment with their new employer or new employment had
‘effects’ bargaining taken place at the time required by law.”
Signal Communications, 284 NLRB 423, 428 (1987); Live Oak
Skilled Care & Manor, supra at 1042. The Respondent had a
duty to bargain over such matters as severance pay, payment of
accrued benefits, continuation of health benefits for employees
not re-employed by the new employer, etc. Respondent’s fail-
ure to do so requires that employees be made whole for losses
incurred by such failure. Sierra International Truck, Inc., 319
NLRB 948 (1995).
Meaningful bargaining cannot be guaranteed unless some
measure of economic equipoise is granted to the Union. Given
the facts of this case, I find the Transmarine backpay remedy is
appropriate, and to require “the employees whose statutory
rights were invaded by reason of the Respondent’s unlawful . . .
action, and who may have suffered losses in consequence
thereof, be reimbursed for such losses until such time as the
Respondent remedies its violation by doing what it should have
done in the first place.” Royal Plating & Polishing Co., 160
NLRB 990, 999 (1966), quoting Winn-Dixie Stores, 147 NLRB
788, 792 (1964), enfd. in relevant part 361 F.2d 512 (5th Cir.
1966).
It is recommended that, in order to effectuate the purposes of
the Act, Respondent bargain with the Union concerning the
effects on its employees of the sale of Radio Station KSDO in
San Diego, California, and shall order a limited backpay re-
quirement designed both to make the employees whole for
losses suffered as a result of the violation of the Act and to
recreate some practical economic balance to the bargaining so
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 360
such bargaining is not devoid of any economic consequence for
Respondent. Backpay shall be paid at the rate earned by units A
and B employees on the last date of their employment with
Gannett, with interest as set forth in New Horizons for the Re-
tarded, 283 NLRB 1173 (1987). I recommend leaving the de-
termination of losses suffered by employees to the compliance
stage of this proceeding.
Respondent shall pay employees represented by the Union
backpay at the rate of their normal wages when last in Respon-
dent’s employ, from 5 days after the date of the Board’s Order
until the occurrence of the earliest of the following conditions:
(1) the date Respondent bargains to agreement with the Union
on those subjects pertaining to the effects of the sale and loss of
employment upon its employees; (2) a bona fide impasse in
bargaining; (3) the failure of the Union to request bargaining
within 5 days of the Board’s Order, or to commence negotia-
tions within 5 days of Respondent’s notice of its desire to bar-
gain with the Union; or (4) the subsequent failure of the Union
to bargain in good faith. In no event shall the backpay of any of
the employees represented by the Union exceed the amount he
or she would have earned as wages from December 9, 1996, the
date of the sale and/or the date of termination of Union repre-
sented employees, to the time the employee secured equivalent
employment elsewhere, or the date on which Respondent shall
have offered to bargain, whichever occurs sooner; provided,
however, that in no event shall the backpay sum be less than
these employees would have earned for a 2-week period at the
normal rate of their normal wages when last in Respondent’s
employ. Backpay shall be paid at the rate earned by units A and
B employees on the last date of their employment with Gannett,
with interest as set forth in New Horizons for the Retarded,
supra.
On these findings of fact and conclusions of law and on the
entire record, I issue the following recommended5
ORDER
The Respondent, Gannett Co., Inc., San Diego, California, its
officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Failing and refusing to timely notify and bargain with the
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Local

5 If no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102.48 of the Board’s
Rules and Regulations, the findings, conclusions, and recommended
Order shall, as provided in Sec. 102.48 of the Rules, be adopted by the
Board and all objections to them shall be deemed waived for all pur-
poses.
225, AFL–CIO, as the exclusive representative of its employees
for the Units composed of all staff announcers, newspersons,
freelance performers, producers, writers, directors, editors, and
call screeners employed at KSDO.
(b) In any other like or related manner interfering with, re-
straining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights
guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative actions necessary to effec-
tuate the policies of the Act.
(a) On request, bargain in good faith with the American Fed-
eration of Television and Radio Artists, Local 225, AFL–CIO,
concerning the effects of its decision to sell or otherwise trans-
fer its assets and operations at Radio Station KSDO and to ter-
minate the employees, and if any understanding is reached,
embody it in a signed agreement.
(b) Pay the terminated employees represented by the Ameri-
can Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Local 225,
AFL–CIO, their normal wages for the period set forth in the
remedy section of this decision.
(c) Preserve and, on request, make available to the Board or
its agents for examination and copying, all payroll records,
social security payment records, timecards, personnel records
and reports, and all other records necessary to analyze the
amount of backpay due under the terms of this Order.
(d) Mail an exact copy of the attached notice marked “Ap-
pendix”6 to the Union and to all union-represented employees
at Radio Station KSDO employed on December 9, 1996, to
those employees’ last known addresses. Copies of the notice,
on forms provided by the Regional Director for Region 21,
after being duly signed by Respondent’s duly authorized repre-
sentative, shall be mailed immediately upon receipt thereof, as
herein directed.
(e) Within 21 days after service by the Regional Director,
file with the Regional Director a sworn certification of a re-
sponsible official on a form provided by the Region attesting to
the steps that Respondent has taken to comply.

6 If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States Court of
Appeals, the works in the notice reading “Posted by Order of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board” shall read: Posted Pursuant to a Judg-
ment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the
National Labor Relations Board.”