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.
In a long-awaited decision, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today ruled that New York Times tech workers can hold a vote on unionization starting later this month as one united bargaining unit. It marks a major victory for tech workers at the Times, who first announced the formation of their union in April and have met resistance from the Times at every step, including an attempt in August to divide the group into separate job-specific units and disenfranchise dozens of voters.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
NewsGuild leaders were saddened to learn of the passing of Kathy Mulvey Brennan, who died today after a brief illness.
Kathy came to work for the Guild in 1997, after serving as a staffer at both the American Federation of Government Employees and the Office and Professional Employees International Union. She retired as the director of contract administration and previously was the office manager and Guild coordinator. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob Brennan, who was also a staffer of the Communications Workers of America.