Employees of Delaware North Companies, which operates many of the food franchises at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, have accused the firm of being prickly about criticism. The Chronicle found out just how prickly recently when the firm’s management hid copies of an issue containing an unflattering article.

Earlier this month, we ran a 175-word story reporting that four members of Unite Here, a hospitality and service union, were protesting their dismissal (see “Airport Workers Fight for Jobs,” April 16). They said that Delaware North’s claims of insubordination were actually prompted by the workers’ attempts to highlight health and safety concerns as well as changes in their working conditions. But visitors to Austin-Bergstrom didn’t get to read about the dispute. The Chronicle was informed by Unite Here members that all copies of that issue in areas of the airport controlled by Delaware North had been removed and thrown in the trash. When the Chronicle‘s distribution office called and offered to provide replacement copies, the offer was rejected – in no uncertain terms.

Airport spokesman Jim Halbrook said Delaware North management told him that “copies of that Chronicle were being put out on tables and scattered about [and] turned to the article, which was highlighted.” Because Delaware North felt the newspapers were “making a mess of their stores,” he said, they were removed.

The Chronicle was also told by Delaware North management that the union was going to withdraw its claims of unfair and potentially unsanitary working conditions. But according to Unite Here Texas Director Willy Gon­zalez, Delaware North “asked us to retract the story, and we told them no.” As for the firm’s removal of the Chronicle, he said, “Well, that tells you a little bit about them.”

The four fired employees will be meeting with Mayor Lee Leffingwell on Friday to discuss their current situation. The union has now filed grievances on their behalf, requesting they be fully reinstated with back pay, and has proposed that a mediator be brought in to settle the disagreement. Gonzalez said: “We stand firm in our position that the workers’ rights have to be respected. We will keep pushing until they are returned to work and DNC listens to the voices of their employees.”

This article appears in April 30 • 2010.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.