Category: Collective Bargaining

After Bankruptcy, Boston Herald Employees Vote Unanimously to Ratify New Contracts

March 20, 2018 – Workers at the Boston Herald voted unanimously to ratify collective bargaining agreements on March 15, following a grueling period of uncertainty and strife that began when former owner Pat Purcell declared bankruptcy on Dec. 8.

The agreements averted major cuts to pay and benefits, which the new owners, Digital First Media, could have imposed on March 19, when their bid to purchase the Herald received final approval from the bankruptcy court. Continue reading “After Bankruptcy, Boston Herald Employees Vote Unanimously to Ratify New Contracts”

NLRB Regional Director: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Violated Federal Law

March 18, 2018 – The regional director of the National Labor Relations Board has determined that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette violated federal law when it refused to pay a 2018 increase in the health care costs for 150 members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh while the union and management are involved in contract negotiations. Continue reading “NLRB Regional Director: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Violated Federal Law”

Guild Urges Duke to Sever Ties with Hedge Fund President

SIGN THE PETITION: Tell Duke to cut ties to Alden/Heath Freeman

This article by Julie Reynolds appears on the DFM Workers website.

March 2, 2018 – The NewsGuild-CWA, which represents workers at 12 Digital First Media newspapers, is urging Duke University to sever its ties to hedge fund president Heath Freeman, saying Freeman’s donations “directly contradict” the mission of Duke, home to one of the nation’s most prominent research centers for media and democracy. Continue reading “Guild Urges Duke to Sever Ties with Hedge Fund President”

Click Goals: The pressure is always there.

By Martha Waggoner, NewsGuild International Chairperson

 

Feb. 23, 2018 – When sports reporter Jeff Gordon arrives at the office of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the first thing he sees is a monitor that lists stories based on their popularity or the number of clicks they receive.

And while the newspaper and its unionized newsroom don’t have any official click — or page view — goals, everyone wants their story at the top of the list. Continue reading “Click Goals: The pressure is always there.”

AP Employees Mobilize for Negotiations

Feb. 22, 2018 – When a small gray car pulled up in front of the building that houses The Associated Press Washington Bureau in November, the red-shirted crowd on the sidewalk roared and held up signs, including a favorite: “AP’s health care proposal is enough to make you sick!” Continue reading “AP Employees Mobilize for Negotiations”

New Activism Takes Hold at the Post

Feb. 22, 2018 – From the outside, the Washington Post seems to be flourishing.

Multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought the company, moved the staff into a beautiful new building, and hired a staggering amount of new talent.

Yet the latest round of bargaining between Bezos and the Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild dragged on through last summer, fall and winter with miserly proposals from management and precious little movement. Continue reading “New Activism Takes Hold at the Post”

Campaign for Raises Escalates as DFM Cuts Staff

Feb. 22, 2018 – As negotiations for wage increases get underway, workers at 12 publications owned by Digital First Media (DFM) are escalating their contract campaign against Alden Global Capital, the New York hedge fund that owns the company and that has been systematically stripping newspaper assets since 2012. Continue reading “Campaign for Raises Escalates as DFM Cuts Staff”

Guild Members Ratify First-of-its-Kind Agreement with GateHouse

Feb. 22, 2018 – Guild members at 17 separate bargaining units overwhelming ratified a first-of-its kind “global settlement” with GateHouse Media that improves wages and protects health benefits at the GateHouse-owned newspapers. Continue reading “Guild Members Ratify First-of-its-Kind Agreement with GateHouse”

Staff of Chicago Community Papers Seeks Support in Unexpected Places

Feb. 22, 2018 – NewsGuild members at three suburban Chicago community newspapers have ramped up their fight for a good contract by seeking support in unexpected places. Continue reading “Staff of Chicago Community Papers Seeks Support in Unexpected Places”

Bargaining & Settlements – Bytes & bits: EF Teachers Win First Contract

Feb. 22, 2018 – Plagued by low pay and a lack of job security, English-as-a-second-language teachers at Education First outside Boston were the first of the company’s U.S. affiliates to form a union. In January, after almost two years of negotiations, they ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. Continue reading “Bargaining & Settlements – Bytes & bits: EF Teachers Win First Contract”