Bargaining & Settlements – Bytes & Bits: Sarasota

Sarasota MOA

Members of the Sarasota Guild unit of CWA Local 3108 ratified a Memorandum of Agreement covering the implementation of layoffs in February after management at the Herald-Tribune opened contract negotiations by declaring its intention to reduce the newsroom workforce the following week. The parties negotiated an agreement that reduced the number of layoffs, added two weeks of “notice pay” to severance pay, and provided a one-year rehire list. Continue reading “Bargaining & Settlements – Bytes & Bits: Sarasota”

‘Employers pay a price for retaliation’

NLRB Files Complaint Against Sarasota Herald-Tribune

(June 7, 2017) There are consequences for companies – like the Sarasota Herald-Tribune – that retaliate against employees who vote to form a union.

That’s the significance of the decision by Region 12 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to file a formal complaint against the Florida paper, says Tim Schick, administrative director of the NewsGuild-CWA. Continue reading “‘Employers pay a price for retaliation’”

Workers at GateHouse Publications Win Stunning Victory at Shareholders Meeting

(Updated June 1) May 31, 2017 – Workers at 16 publications owned by the New Media Investment Group – the parent company of GateHouse Media – won a stunning victory on May 25, when shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of a proposal offered by the NewsGuild-CWA’s St. Louis-based local, the United Media Guild.  Continue reading “Workers at GateHouse Publications Win Stunning Victory at Shareholders Meeting”

Journalists Mark Press Freedom Day with Campaign for the ‘Right to Report’

Members of the NewsGuild-CWA marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3 by launching a campaign to protect the Right to Report. The union is asking all those who treasure freedom of the press to sign a petition and join the fight to protect this cherished right.

Continue reading “Journalists Mark Press Freedom Day with Campaign for the ‘Right to Report’”

In First-Ever Coordinated Actions, GateHouse, DFM Workers Stand Up for Press Freedom

May 4, 2017 – NewsGuild-CWA members at 28 digital media companies owned by Gatehouse Media and Digital First Media (DFM) observed World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with coordinated actions to support quality journalism at the papers and to highlight the damage wrought by severe cuts in their newsrooms and other departments.

The activities, which included rallies and displays of signs and banners at work stations, aimed to raise awareness of the growing threat that “vulture” hedge funds pose to the nation’s community newspapers. Union leaders say the newspaper owners’ excessive profiteering threatens journalism at a critical time of politicized attacks on the news media. The events marked the first coordinated acts of solidarity by GateHouse and DFM workers. Continue reading “In First-Ever Coordinated Actions, GateHouse, DFM Workers Stand Up for Press Freedom”

Workers at Digital First Media, GateHouse Join Forces on Press Freedom Day

Unionized workers at media outlets owned by GateHouse Media and Digital First Media (DFM) will mark World Press Freedom Day – May 3 – by sending a message to their employers: “Democracy Depends on Journalism: Invest in Us.”

Continue reading “Workers at Digital First Media, GateHouse Join Forces on Press Freedom Day”