Author: Jon Schleuss

Newsletter: 1,000+ workers are in public campaigns to unionize with the Guild

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

Staffers at Wirecutter are planning a walkout during Black Friday week if the company continues to slow-walk bargaining. The New York Times Co., which owns the product review site, has failed to provide necessary information to negotiate wages. At the same time, the Times is rolling in money: Wirecutter has added 10,000 paid subscribers and the company is sitting on about $1 billion in cash. The company sends union-busting attorneys to the table and has offered guaranteed annual raises of just 0.5%.

Continue reading “Newsletter: 1,000+ workers are in public campaigns to unionize with the Guild”

Newsletter: A watchful eye

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

Did you notice the new logo at the top of this email? I unveiled the new design at our Sector Conference last week to rave reviews.

The design, which was selected by our Executive Council, is forward-looking while paying tribute to our proud history. Several features — the unblinking eye, protective shield, radiating lines — are adapted from logos we used decades ago. They symbolize the watchdog role and illuminating effect of journalists and media workers.

Continue reading “Newsletter: A watchful eye”

2021 Sector Conference adopted sweeping constitutional changes, looks to future

Most folks are not usually interested in a six-hour zoom call, but the 2021 NewsGuild-CWA Sector Conference was a lively affair, having been moved to a digital conference along with the CWA Convention, which began today.  

Continue reading “2021 Sector Conference adopted sweeping constitutional changes, looks to future”

New logo keeps a watchful eye on our democracies

During Saturday’s Sector Conference, I revealed the new logo design selected by the Executive Council to be our official logo going forward. 

The new logo is forward-looking while paying tribute to our proud history. Several features of the new image are adapted from logos the Guild used decades ago.

Continue reading “New logo keeps a watchful eye on our democracies”

Newsletter: Constitutional improvements in front of Saturday’s Sector Conference

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

This Saturday we’ve got the 2021 NewsGuild Sector Conference. It’s our biennial conference where elected delegates set policies for our union, pass resolutions, amend our constitution and nominate officers.

Because of the pandemic it made sense to move this year’s conference to a virtual one and it will get started at 10 a.m. ET Saturday. I expect about 100 folks from all over the NewsGuild to attend. This year’s primary agenda will focus on some major changes to our constitution governing our elections. These proposed improvements will make sure that every member gets notified of their ability to be eligible to vote and that members get ballots delivered by mail until the U.S. Dept. of Labor allows electronic voting.

Continue reading “Newsletter: Constitutional improvements in front of Saturday’s Sector Conference”

Newsletter: Journalists have receipts

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

That’s the message to Gannett CEO Mike Reed on the subject of unpaid overtime at the nation’s biggest news chain.

We launched an investigation after members first tweeted about the practice inside Gannett and a top editor tweeted, “Every business exploits the young – it’s called gaining experience, and I don’t regret it one bit.” He later added, “Prove yourself and they’ll pay you.”

In my email to Reed, I let him know about the investigation and urged him to launch his own investigation, end the culture of exploitation and agree to the common-sense contract proposals advanced by journalists at Gannett.

Continue reading “Newsletter: Journalists have receipts”

Newsletter: This Gannett boss thinks working for free builds character

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

There is some big U.S. legislative news this week: the jobs tax credit in the Local Journalism Sustainability Act made it into the House Ways and Means Committee recommendations for reconciliation. This means it has a very good chance of becoming law.

Continue reading “Newsletter: This Gannett boss thinks working for free builds character”

Newsletter: Supporting Afghan journalists and rallying for local news

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

The NewsGuild and four other media unions urged President Biden to support journalists, support staff and families who are desperately trying to flee Afghanistan in a letter sent on Aug. 23.

“We have watched the rapid deterioration of the situation inside Afghanistan with great concern for everyone involved,” we said. 

Continue reading “Newsletter: Supporting Afghan journalists and rallying for local news”

Newsletter: A lawyer oopsie, a work stoppage and more wins

Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.

Hundreds of New York Times tech workers held a work stoppage last week to protest management’s attempts to prevent about one-third of tech employees, including product designers and data analysts, from voting in their upcoming election on union representation. They also protested other unfair labor practices, such as management illegally asking workers their views about unionizing and saying that workers would get more from management if they stopped organizing. I was fired up speaking to the workers at their rally Wednesday. These workers are innovating the future of journalism and they deserve a voice in their workplace!

Continue reading “Newsletter: A lawyer oopsie, a work stoppage and more wins”