America needs stronger reviews of news company mergers 

Gannett and GateHouse merged in 2019.

Alden Global Capital gobbled up Tribune Publishing in 2021.

Alden made a play for Lee Enterprises in 2022 – and may make another.

“Consolidation is killing local news,” said NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss. “We will continue to fight consolidation and we call on the federal government to review news industry megamergers by examining how they negatively impact workers, readers, communities, local reporting and U.S. democracy.”

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Annual per capita adjustment takes effect in May

The NewsGuild-CWA Constitution mandates an annual adjustment of per capita dues locals pay to the national union, based on a formula in Article XVIII, Section 5. Beginning May 2022, the monthly per capita rate will be $23.86, an increase of 36 cents over the 2021 rate.  

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Washington Post Guild releases 2022 pay study and powerful new report from Black employees

Study finds “The Washington Post still operates with systems that perpetuate inequalities.”

After almost two years of work by a team of dedicated union members, the Post Guild’s 2022 Pay, Diversity and Retention Study and Black Caucus testimonial report were released Wednesday.

These reports build upon work the Guild presented in its 2019 pay study, with additional data, striking testimonials and detailed analysis that support a growing concern shared across employees at the company: The Washington Post still operates with systems that perpetuate inequalities.

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Consumer Reports Guild Votes Overwhelmingly to Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement  

The contract includes up to 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay, guaranteed wage increases of 14% (compounded), a $3k ratification bonus, and strong DEI policies. 

The Consumer Reports Guild, which represents over 250 workers at Consumer Reports Magazine and consumerreports.org, voted overwhelmingly to ratify their contract 192 to 4.

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Timesland News Guild members ratify contract

The journalists of The Roanoke Times and Laker Weekly have ratified a new contract with Lee Enterprises, the Timesland News Guild announced on Tuesday.

The two-year agreement includes an increase of almost 12% in the minimum salary, across-the-board pay raises of 2% in each year of the two-year agreement, and adjustments to correct pay inequities. It is the second contract for the newsroom union, which that formed in 2020, and covers about 30 people.

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Danielle Newsome at a rally in Philadelphia in front of city hall

Welcome Danielle Newsome, the Guild’s newest staff rep

I’m so excited to write and tell you that Danielle Newsome has joined the Guild as a staff representative! Before joining the Guild, Danielle worked for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, bringing cases against employers that mistreated workers. Before that she was at a union-side labor law firm with ties to CWA District 2-13 and she was a former Guild member when she worked at the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, which is a bargaining unit at the Washington-Baltimore News Guild.

I talked with Danielle and want to share our conversation so you could get to know her.

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Want to go to the Labor Notes Conference?

The 2022 Labor Notes Conference is a great opportunity to meet and learn from activists and leaders from across the labor movement.

That’s why we’re sponsoring up to 15 leaders and members and covering three night’s hotel stay, registration of $130, and flight or travel up to $600. We’ll review applications and select at random from the top 15 applicants.

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Media Guild of the West weighs in on Calif. bill to fund public interest media

Members of the Media Guild of the West voted overwhelmingly last week to weigh in on a California bill that would fund “public interest” media.

Spurred by the collapse of the traditional business model for local journalism, California Senate Bill 911 would create a board to “fund and promote independent, local, public service news coverage.”

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Staffers at Common Cause are unionizing

Update: April 15, 2022 – Members of Common Cause Staff Union won voluntary recognition of their union.

April 8, 2022 – A supermajority of staffers at Common Cause asked leadership of the organization to recognize the Common Cause Staff Union as part of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild Local 32035 on Thursday. Common Cause is a nonpartisan grassroots organization with 1.5 million members and supporters dedicated to building a strong democracy and holding power accountable.

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