News | The NewsGuild

Photo of members of The NewsGuild of New York marching in the New York City Labor Day Parade with a sign reading "Democracy Depends on Journalism"

NewsGuild strongly condemns illegal subpoenas against reporters by Trump administration

Contact: Jen Sheehan, jen@nyguild.org, 610-573-0740

The NewsGuild-CWA strongly condemns recent Justice Department subpoenas demanding journalists at The New York Times testify about their reporting on security concerns surrounding Air Force One.

The federal government subpoenaed journalists, who are also Guild members, after they reported that the plane the president accepted as a gift from Qatar lacked advanced security features found in the traditional Air Force One and that the Secret Service had urged the president to fly home in the older model.

The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that the federal government cannot restrain or control the reporting on matters in the public interest, which is protected under the First Amendment.

“It’s our job as journalists to seek truth, ask questions, and ethically report our findings,” said Jim Luttrell, unit chair for the Times Guild and senior staff editor for The New York Times. “Our members adhere to this journalistic mission every day and we won’t be cowed by efforts to limit our reporting through legal and political threats or by attempts at intimidation.”

Dozens of workers file to unionize at Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, joining the Canadian Media Guild

Previously non-unionized workers at Aboriginal Peoples Television Network have filed to join the Canadian Media Guild.

The union filed with the Canada Industrial Relations Board on Thursday after a majority of more than 60 staff signed union cards. These workers are based across the country with the main office in Manitoba.

“By coming together, we strengthen our ability to support one another, advocate for our wellbeing, and create a sustainable future for the people who make APTN possible,” the workers said in their mission statement.

“As a community, we believe every employee deserves healthy and safe working conditions, guidance and support from their managers, the trust and independence to do their best work, and most importantly flexibility to care for their families and communities.”

The Canadian Media Guild already represents a majority of the workers at APTN and is pleased to welcome these others who organized themselves with guidance from CWA Canada organizers and CMG staff representatives.

“We are happy to welcome these talented and determined media workers into the union. They put in so much time and effort to organize themselves around shared issues in the workplace,” said Jane Robertson, national president of the CMG. “When people do that work to organize, they create lasting change for themselves and those who follow.”

The CMG will await the decision of the Industrial Relations Board over the coming weeks as we work to welcome more members at APTN.

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is a national Indigenous media organization, sharing programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples at home and abroad.

The Canadian Media Guild is a represents 6,000 workers in the Canadian media. Members work at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada (CBC/SRC), The Canadian Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), TVO, TFO, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), ZoomerMedia and CKOI Radio Gatineau (Québec).

Photo of workers at the University of Chicago Press before their vote to unionize with the Chicago News Guild

University of Chicago Press workers overwhelmingly vote to unionize

CHICAGO—The University of Chicago Press Workers Guild (UCPWG) has won their union election, with a majority of their 134 members voting to become a unit of the Chicago News Guild, TNG-CWA Local 34071, joining the nationwide labor movement for a stronger publishing industry. In a decisive victory, 89% of workers voted in favor of union representation.

Workers held a mixed manual-mail ballot election with the National Labor Relations Board. Onsite and hybrid workers based at the University of Chicago Press’s campus office voted in person on June 9 and 10, while out-of-state, remote, and eligible Chicago Distribution Center workers voted by mail. The formation of this unit marks a significant moment, as it is the first union for most of the departments at the press, following certain Chicago Distribution Center departments that are already organized with the Teamsters.

Hachette workers posing for a group photo while they were voting to unionize with The NewsGuild-CWA

Hachette Book Group employees win election for largest union in trade publisher history

Media contacts:
Kathleen Floyd, WBNG Communications: kfloyd@wbng.org
Hachette Workers Coalition: info@hachetteworkers.com

More than 600 workers at Hachette Book Group, the third-largest trade publisher in the United States, voted in a decisive victory 388-130 to unionize with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. The newly certified Hachette Workers Coalition will now begin negotiating its first collective bargaining agreement with the company.

Hachette workers are now the largest union in trade publishing history and the second of the Big Five publishers to unionize.

Photo of members of the High Country News on zoom voting on their first collective bargaining agreement

Workers at High Country News–aka the GOAT union–wins first contract

On Wednesday June 24 staff at High Country News (“HCN”) based in Colorado ratified their first collective bargaining agreement after unionizing in early 2024. The agreement covers 13 workers including writers, editors, photographers, customer service specialists, membership development managers, finance and payroll employees and more.

Photo of four workers at the San Fransisco Public Press

San Francisco Public Press workers form union, seek voice in the workplace

Press Contact: sfpublicpressworkersguild@gmail.com

PMWG Staff: esteban@mediaworkers.org

SAN FRANCISCO — Workers at non-profit investigative newsroom, San Francisco Public Press have created a union as part of the Pacific Media Workers Guild Local 39521, joining the nationwide labor movement for a stronger media system. It follows in the footsteps of other local newsrooms which have unionized recently. They have been voluntarily recognized by management.

“I love this work and I want this newsroom to thrive,” said Audrey Mei Yi Brown, a reporter. “I hope to set up the Public Press to be sustainable and retain its talented, passionate staff long-term.”

Pacific Media Workers hiring staff rep

Thousands of journalists and media workers have organized and joined The NewsGuild in the past few years. They’re doing it to save their jobs and our democracy. The Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 seeks a full-time Union Representative to support them. Our Local represents media workers as well as those in nonprofit, publishing and labor.

We’re looking for someone with a range of skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment. In recent years, PMWG has successfully organized several new shops. Winning strong first contracts is an essential element of this job.

AAJCollective members ratify landmark first contract with with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC

Media contact:
Kathleen Floyd, WBNG Communications: kfloyd@wbng.org

WASHINGTON– The AAJCollective, the union representing staff at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (AAJC), has ratified its first-ever collective bargaining agreement. This hard-won contract delivers transformative improvements for workers across the organization.

The agreement, reached following more than a year and a half of negotiations and a March 2026 one-day walkout, establishes a strong foundation of fair wages, robust benefits, and meaningful job protections for all bargaining unit employees.

Editorial workers at New York’s Schneps Media launch union

Contact: Max Parrott
schnepsmediaunion@gmail.com

NEW YORK – Schneps employees are forming a union! An overwhelming majority of the eligible staff of the Schneps Media Network of hyperlocal news outlets spanning New York City and Long Island announced (June 15, 2026) the creation of a union to secure competitive wages, sustainable working conditions and strengthen the news organization’s mission of providing objective local journalism in the public interest.

With a team of about 30 staffers across the editorial department, Schneps has taken on an increasingly critical role in the New York City and Long Island media landscape as part of its community-focused coverage of the greater New York area. The publisher’s New York City footprint extends through five boroughs including amNY, amNY Law, Brooklyn Paper, The Bronx Times, Brownstoner, QNS, Noticias, New York Family, Staten Island Parent and Caribbean Life. On Long Island, its outlets include the Long Island Press and Dan’s Papers.

Photo of Carol Rothman, former officer of The NewsGuild-CWA

Former Guild leader Carol Rothman dies

Carol Rothman, who held many leadership roles at The NewsGuild-CWA, died suddenly on May 19 at the age of 76.

Rothman retired as TNG-CWA’s Secretary-Treasurer in 2013, having served in that role since 2008. Prior to that, Rothman was the Guild’s sector chairperson from 1995 until 2008 and oversaw executive council meetings and sector conferences. That followed her service as a vice president on the Guild’s executive council from 1983 until 1993.