Author: Bernie

Union Member Rights in the Workplace

Your Right to Form a Union
The National Labor Relations Act guarantees your legal right to join or form a union without interference, restraint or coercion from your employer. The relevant sections of National Labor Relations Act are summarized as follows on the website of the National Labor Relations Board:

  • Employees have the right to unionize, to join together to advance their interests as employees, and to refrain from such activity. It is unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights. For example, employers may not respond to a union organizing drive by threatening, interrogating, or spying on pro-union employees, or by promising benefits if they forget about the union.

    • Continue reading “Union Member Rights in the Workplace”

How a Union Leads to a Better Workplace

Once the employer recognizes the employees will be members of The NewsGuild, there is a process to legally negotiate about work rules and standards.

Choosing a union allows employees to negotiate as a group to create a better workplace. Once the employer recognizes the employees will be members of The NewsGuild, there is a process to legally negotiate about work rules and standards, what is know as terms and conditions of employment. Even without a union, the law allows individual employees a right to negotiate their terms and conditions of employment. Continue reading “How a Union Leads to a Better Workplace”

How Organizing Works

If you are interested in organizing your workplace, The NewsGuild will help you build support among you and your coworkers. A Federal law gives employees the right to organize and the rights of employees are protected by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). But, the interpretation and enforcement of the laws and rights are subject to politics and the courts.

Therefore, it is best to get in touch with us before speaking with coworkers about forming a union where you work. Experience has shown that to create a successful campaign, it is important that you and your coworkers take the lead in the organizing. Staff members at The NewsGuild will provide you with support and guidance throughout the process of forming your union. Continue reading “How Organizing Works”

Email Rights

Barbara Camens and Marissa Jacobson
TNG-CWA Legal Counsel

The same computer technology that helps make businesses more efficient is useful to unions, too-much to some employers’ dismay. So it should come as no surprise that as TNG-CWA locals and their members increasingly rely on company e-mail to communicate about workplace issues, those same employers are trying to prohibit such use, often by unilaterally imposing new computer-use policies. Many such efforts, however, are illegal and should be challenged by TNG locals. Continue reading “Email Rights”

Union Pride at Dow Jones as Bargaining Enters Third Month

With T-shirts, bulletin boards and lots of solidarity photos on social media, Guild members at the Wall Street Journal and other Dow Jones properties have been doing their all to support the IAPE bargaining team. Talks began in June. Wages are a key sticking point, with the union seeking to offset increases in employees’ share of health care costs. IAPE is asking for a 3.5 percent raise in the first year and 4.5 percent in the following two years, while Dow Jones hasn’t budged above 2 percent.

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Quality Journalism, Quality Jobs

Many journalists today juggle numerous jobs – reporting, writing, creating videos and posting to social media. Getting it all done often means working well outside business hours. There’s little time or energy left to pursue leads, dig deep and produce the high-quality journalism that is vital to readers.

Having a voice at work makes all the difference. A NewsGuild contract sets standards that make your job sustainable. Whether you’re concerned about job security, fair wages, health benefits, parental leave, vacation time or sick days, what matters to you is what matters to us. We don’t tell our members which battles to fight. We stand with you, support you with staff and financial resources and help you achieve your goals.

Continue reading “Quality Journalism, Quality Jobs”

Solidarity Pays Off for Members at Time, Inc.

New York Guild members approve new contract at Time Inc., ending 2-year dispute with company

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2016 – NewsGuild of New York members at Time Inc. approved a revised settlement offer by a 3-to-1 margin Thursday, ending a two-year dispute with the company.

Members overwhelmingly rejected a company offer in June, prior to a National Labor Relations Board administrative ruling that favored the company. The Guild brought the case when Time Inc. declared impasse and imposed work rules nearly two years ago. As part of the settlement, the Guild is dropping its appeal of the ruling.

Continue reading “Solidarity Pays Off for Members at Time, Inc.”