Tribune-Herald to Move Printing Operations to Kona

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald in August will move its printing operations to West Hawaii Today, its sister newspaper in Kona.

The Pacific Media Workers Guild, an umbrella organization which includes the two unions operating at the Tribune-Herald, said the move will result in layoffs of press workers in Hilo.

According to the guild, the newspaper said it decided to subcontract printing to West Hawaii Today because the Hilo printing press is old and in need of repair. It said consolidation of printing operations also is an industry trend nationally.

Negotiations for a new contract for the press workers had been ongoing between the newspaper and the Hawaii Printing and Graphic Communications Union No. 413N. It was not immediately clear how many workers would be affected.

The other union at the Tribune-Herald, the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, represents editorial, advertising and business workers.

Workers at West Hawaii Today are not represented by labor unions. According to the guild, a memo to staff at the Kona newspaper said the Tribune-Herald would be printed at its plant and then transported back to Hilo for packaging and delivery.

The memo said West Hawaii Today did not anticipate hiring additional press workers.

The Aug. 18 edition will be the last printed in Hilo.

Both newspapers are owned by Las Vegas-based Stephens Media which publishes newspapers in 10 states.