L.A. Times’ objections to press union rejected

A federal labor official has rejected objections lodged by the Los Angeles Times to a January election in which press operators narrowly voted to unionize.

In an opinion dated Friday, National Labor Relations Board hearing officer Jessica Toton rejected four claims by The Times that union supporters coerced, misled and even threatened workers during the secret-ballot election held Jan. 6. at a newspaper printing plant.

Toton recommended that the Graphics Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters be certified as the collective bargaining unit of the 280 workers.

Times spokeswoman Nancy Sullivan said the newspaper was “currently exploring our options,” including appealing to the full NLRB in Washington.