Sally Davidow | The NewsGuild

Sports Illustrated Union: We have a deal!

Two years after forming the Sports Illustrated Union, negotiators have agreed on a tentative agreement with management and the publisher, the Arena Group. They are the second unit of the New York NewsGuild to announce details of a first contract in two days, following the workers of New York magazine.

Committed to local news, Duluth News Tribune workers demand and win pay and job security improvements

Workers at the Duluth News Tribune voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement that makes progress on wages and job security on Wednesday.

NewsGuild joins amicus brief opposing prior restraint of NY Times

The NewsGuild joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and more than 60 other organizations in filing an amicus brief opposing a trial court’s prior restraint of the New York Times in Project Veritas v. New York Times Co. An appeal is pending before New York’s Appellate Division.

Staffers at Outside go all in on forming a union

Staffers at Outside magazine announced Tuesday that they are unionizing.

“Since the start of @outsidemagazine almost 45 years ago, we’ve been providing intrepid coverage of those who dare to push the limits of what we think is possible,” workers wrote in a tweet. “So today, we are proud to announce that the Outside magazine editorial staff is forming a union.” They will become part of the Denver News Guild Local 37074.

Change.org staff in Canada win union recognition

Canadian workers at the online petition company Change.org have officially won union recognition as part of CWA Canada. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified the union as the bargaining agent and will hold a hearing Feb. 9 to determine the precise makeup of the bargaining unit.

Calling themselves Solidarity@Change, workers at the company announced a cross-border campaign to unionize with the CWA last spring. CWA Canada filed for certification last June after a majority of staff in Victoria and Toronto signed union cards.

Wrapping up a record year with workers unafraid to strike

There’s no denying it: 2021 was a bang-up year for NewsGuild union organizing. Journalists, staffers at nonprofits and employees of publishing houses stood up in record numbers and demanded a voice at work.

In all, 2,128 workers fought for and won union recognition at 42 new workplaces.

Column chart showing numbers of workers unionizing with NewsGuild-CWA from 2015 through 2021, with 2,128 workers joining the union in 2021.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. NewsGuild members embraced a new sense of empowerment, engaging in increasingly militant actions when management stalled, violated labor law or refused to bargain. 2021 was the year of workers demanding more respect and NewsGuild members played an active part.

Daily Hampshire Gazette workers end year by ratifying first contract

Unionized workers at the Daily Hampshire Gazette ended 2021 by ratifying their first contract, securing important victories after more than two years of negotiating with the Gazette’s owners, Newspapers of New England (NNE).

MinnPost Union wins first contract, becoming the third Guild unit this week

Workers at MinnPost, a digital nonprofit news organization, ratified their first collective bargaining agreement on Tuesday, less than seven months after they won voluntary union recognition. They were the third NewsGuild unit this week to announce a new contract.

Wirecutter Union reaches deal with NY Times on first contract

Workers at Wirecutter announced Tuesday that after two years of bargaining and a five-day strike, they have reached an agreement with the New York Times on a first contract.

Union members won immediate average wage increases of approximately $5,000, with the lowest paid members receiving a raise of more than 18%. They also won minimum increases of 2.5% per year for those in lower pay bands and 2% for those in higher bands.