Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on SaveLocalNews.org on Feb. 18, 2022.
In a stunning Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Lee Enterprises took a big swing at Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund attempting a hostile takeover of the news chain.
Continue reading “When a hedge fund’s shell game backfires: Lee strikes back at Alden after courtroom victory”
Members of the Alliance for Justice Union voted unanimously Feb. 15 to ratify the first union contract in the organization’s 43-year history. They unionized as part of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild in March 2020 and began negotiations six months later.
Aaron True, a member of the union’s three-person bargaining committee, said workers made significant progress on their three top priorities: salaries – especially for junior workers – health insurance and protections against discrimination. They also won improvements in leave, work hours, remote work and other benefits.
Continue reading “Alliance for Justice Union members vote unanimously to ratify first contract”
In honor of Black History Month, check out One of the Most Influential Black Journalists You Probably Never Heard Of, a podcast episode that tells the story of Marvel Cooke, a crusading Black journalist who organized one of the first chapters of the Newspaper Guild. She reported on labor and race until she was pushed out of journalism by redbaiting.
Continue reading “One of the Most Influential Black Journalists You Probably Never Heard Of”
A federal judge has approved a settlement that prohibits Minnesota State Patrol from attacking or arresting journalists and awards $825,000 to several who were assaulted and injured while covering protests over the police killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright in 2020.
Continue reading “Journalists win $825,000 and reforms in lawsuit brought by Minnesota ACLU, CWA, NewsGuild”
After two years of bargaining, the journalists of Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald have had enough. Today they launched a work-to-rule campaign, declaring, “Our members will work the hours and roles we were hired for and nothing more.”
Continue reading “Journalists of Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald launch work-to-rule campaign”
Journalists at Grist, a nonprofit independent media outlet dedicated to telling stories about climate solutions and a just future, announced today that they are unionizing with the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild Local 37082. They are asking leadership of the organization to voluntarily recognize their union.
Continue reading “Grist Union members seek voluntary recognition from management”
The first time union members at the New York Times attended a bargaining session in big numbers, the company freaked, said Davey Alba, a bargaining committee member who is a technology reporter at the Times. “Management refused to speak for 30 minutes and made a big show of being insulted that we brought all these people.”
But that just piqued workers’ interest.
Continue reading “Open bargaining wins trust and better agreements”
Hannah Jo Rayl always believed that those who had the least deserved a little bit more. During her long and storied career as an international representative for The Newspaper Guild (now The NewsGuild) and later as executive director of the Northeast Ohio Newspaper Guild, Rayl combined keen intelligence, unlimited energy and a righteous moral center to improve the lives of those she represented.
Rayl, of Hartville, Ohio, died Jan. 27, six days after her 85th birthday. She is survived by her brother, Paul, and sisters Ruth and Joyce, as well as generations of media workers she mentored, befriended and represented. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Continue reading “Guild loses a hero: Hannah Jo Rayl”
Journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will begin receiving reimbursement checks totaling more than $100,000 plus 6% interest this week, after a years-long legal battle over the company’s refusal to pay contractually obligated health care coverage increases.
Continue reading “Pittsburgh Guild members will collect $100,000 reimbursement after battle with the Post-Gazette”
On Wednesday the Senate heard testimony on legislation that would exempt media companies from antitrust laws and allow them to collectively negotiate for advertising revenue lost to Google and Facebook.
The NewsGuild praises the bipartisan coalition in Congress that is deeply concerned about the current state of local news in America, but wants to make sure that any legislation is focused on supporting and increasing local news jobs.
Continue reading “Journalism bill pushed by media execs needs improvements”