The latest in a series of workplace actions taken by the membership coincided with the last day for Editorial's Kevin Collison, who left in late August to take a job with the Kansas City Star.

Members wore black to protest The News' decision not to hire someone to fill his slot. Participation by union members in the newsroom was 100 percent.

"We were inspired by what had been done in Classified the last few months," said Editorial's Jim Heaney, referring to three recent successful job actions in Classified. "I think there was a desire on the part of people to express their unhappiness over a number of things, the failure to fill reporters spots being the latest and most egregious."

Classified Chief Steward Bev Gniewecki said her department's job actions were taken after problems were ignored by managers.

"We are not having any success dealing with these people in a traditional way," she said. "We have to look at other options. And luckily, our membership up here has been tremendous about doing anything we ask."