Maui County businesses stand with local journalists, newspaper workers
Prompted by two federal rulings against the West Virginia-based owners of The Maui News and continued company proposals to weaken community journalism, dozens of Maui County businesses and individuals are publicly displaying their support for newspaper workers.
Throughout the county, one can find “I stand with workers of The Maui News” signs in windows and doorways of homes, stores and offices. The support, increasing daily, is a clear indication that the overwhelming majority of readers, advertisers and community leaders are on the side of employees fighting for a vibrant local newspaper.
At stake is nothing less than an institution that has celebrated, supported and served Maui County for nearly 125 years. Ogden Newspapers, based in Wheeling, West Virginia, is continuing to push contract proposals that would eliminate union work and outsource Maui News jobs to the Mainland. Despite letters to the editor, social media posts and a Maui County Council resolution telling Ogden and publisher Chris Minford this is a mistake, executives have refused to recognize and respect what the community wants. They instead continue to falsely posture as Maui County supporters as they simultaneously seek the ability to move jobs and coverage off the island.
Ogden’s dangerous proposals are made even more alarming by the fact that they have come in the midst of multiple decisions by the National Labor Relations Board that ownership has violated federal law. First by seeking to discipline an employee exercising her rights to advocate for herself and her co-workers, and then by unilaterally attempting to deny pay called for in their union contract, Ogden has shown it is willing to ignore federal statute in its bid to shape the paper into something they are told again and again is wrong, dangerous and illegal.
They will get the message, however, as more and more people use their voice, their pen, their keyboard — and now their windows and doorways. As the literal signs of support continue to appear more and more throughout Maui County, the only acceptable outcome will grow increasingly clear to executives stubbornly sticking to rejected ideas. Anyone wishing to obtain one or more signs for themselves, their family or their organization can email guild37082@gmail.com or staff@mediaworkers.org.
Thanks to the following businesses and organizations that have already posted signs!
Sunrise Food Mart
Paradise Supermart
Pacific Fish Market
Wailea Golf Course
Kahului Laudromat
Arisumi Bros
Oyako Tei
Rainbow Tax
Kahului Florist
Ceramic Tile Plus
Nisei Vets
Ace Hardware, Azeka Makai
Alfredo Evangelista, Atty
The Dunes at Maui Lani
Hi-Tech Surf Sports
Takamiya Market | Dani's
Home Maid Bakery
TJ Warehouse
Maui Sporting Goods
Lee Bear Co.
Cameron Center
Maui Federal Credit Union
Maui Specialty Chocolates
Tasaka Guri Guri
Bamboo Grille
Sam Sato's
Miyako Sushi
Ameritone
Marmac Ace Hardware
Maui Comics
Sew Special
Nagasako Okazuya
Aloha Liquor
CAA Mini Mart
JMA Imports
Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe
BK Barber Shop
Pukalani Superette