News | The NewsGuild

RELEASE: ACLU, LA Press Club, NewsGuild sue DHS for unconstitutional attacks on reporters and protestors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2025

Media Contact: communications@aclusocal.org, (213) 977-5252

LOS ANGELES – Last night, protesters, legal observers and journalists sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in federal court for attacking them with retaliatory violence in violation of their Constitutional rights to protest and report on government actions.

“Each time the community rises in protest against the federal government’s attacks on our people, DHS retaliates with sweeping, excessive force,” said Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. “Federal law enforcement has brutalized demonstrators, causing disorder in a circular ploy to justify deploying military domestically against now and future protesters. But people have the right to keep protesting the violent separation of families and ICE’s terrorizing of our people.”

The suit alleges that DHS’s brutal use of force at demonstrations punishes and suppresses the exercise of First Amendment-protected rights. According to the complaint, DHS “misuse[s] . . . weaponry, including … chemical agents such as tear gas, rubber bullets, impact munitions, pepper balls, pepper spray, exploding grenades, batons, fists, and other weapons” to retaliate against protesters, legal observers, and reporters, and to create a violent spectacle the Trump Administration is using as a pretext to turn the military against Californians.

“Since June 6, at least seven members of our organization have been subject to use of force or suffered a serious press rights violation by DHS officers. This number doesn’t include dozens of incidents with minor amounts of tear gas or similar chemical weapons,” said Adam Rose, press rights chair of the Los Angeles Press Club. “Democracy depends on an informed public. An informed public depends on a press free to do its job without fearing violence by federal agents.”

On June 6, the Trump administration began a series of indiscriminate immigration raids across Southern California. DHS officers—in masks, wearing paramilitary gear and brandishing rifles—abducted community members from churches, carwashes, and ordinary places of business. As news of these attacks spread, Southern California residents took to the streets to document what was happening, to remind the targeted community members of their legal rights, and to peacefully protest the federal government’s invasion of their neighborhoods and violent separation of their families.

“What happened in LA isn’t just a press crackdown, it’s an assault on the rights of all Americans, especially working people,” said Jon Schleuss, president of NewsGuild-CWA. “This state-sanctioned violence against journalists is meant to stop the public from learning the truth. We’re proud to join this fight to demand accountability and end impunity for DHS officers who attack the workers who power our free press.”

Alongside the complaint is a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO), asking the court to issue an order restraining DHS before the weekend. The application, which is supported by dozens of declarations from protesters, legal observers and journalists describing DHS’s attacks on them and the resulting injuries, includes a concussion, hematoma, and burns, among numerous others. Plaintiffs are requesting injunctive relief.

The plaintiffs are represented by ACLU Foundation of Southern California, BraunHagey & Borden LLP, the Law Office of Carol A. Sobel, the Law Office of Peter Bibring, and Schonbrun, Seplow, Harris, Hoffman & Zeldes LLP.

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National Labor Relations Board to 3rd Circuit Court: Hold the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Contempt on Health Care

Contact: Moira Bulloch (mbulloch@cwa-union.org), CWA Communications, 202-434-1168

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is facing the prospect of daily, compounding fines over its refusal to comply with a U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals order to restore the health insurance plan that it illegally took away from workers in 2020.

On March 24, the 3rd Circuit Court enjoined the PG to do just that. The Post-Gazette has repeatedly refused, and on Tuesday, the National Labor Relations Board filed with the 3rd Circuit to hold the PG in civil contempt.

Unlike in previous courts where the paper has lost for its numerous violations of federal labor law, Circuit Courts can freeze and seize the PG’s assets to enforce their assigned penalties.

“While NewsGuild workers pile up win after win, the Post-Gazette is continuing to defy federal law and play games with the court rather than give us what they owe us,” said Zack Tanner, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president. “Our demands to the company have been the same for years: Restore our contract, including our health care, and stop breaking the law. The Blocks and their company could have avoided this mess entirely, and now they’re going to be forced to pay the price of their wrongdoing.”

On April 29, the 3rd Circuit Court rejected two attempts by the PG to appeal the March 24 order. The paper tried to deny specifically its own picket line-crossing employees access to the improved health care, in addition to appealing the ruling overall. Neither attempt was deemed worthy of a response beyond rejection by the court.

Union editorial workers and members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh have been on strike since Oct. 18, 2022, demanding the Post-Gazette restore the terms of the collectively bargained contract it illegally discarded in July of 2020. Those included paid time off, short-term disability, and wage scales, in addition to health care, among other issues.

Striking editorial workers continue to demand dignified health care and the restoration of their union contract.

In September of 2024 the NLRB ordered the PG to restore the 2014-17 contract, bargain in good faith, pay workers back for the illegal changes to their health care and wages, and not illegally surveil employees.

On July 7, a separate 3rd Circuit Court panel of judges is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the full enforcement of that order in Philadelphia.

You can support Pittsburgh Post-Gazette strikers by donating to keep them in their homes and food on their tables.

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About The NewsGuild-CWA: The NewsGuild-CWA fights for justice on the job for journalists, media and nonprofit workers. As the largest union of journalists in North America and a sector of the Communications Workers of America, the Guild is one of the fastest-growing unions in the country—more than 11,000 workers have organized with us since 2018.

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

Statement on law enforcement targeting journalists in Los Angeles

Media Contact: Dylan Manshack, dmanshack@cwa-union.org | 202-445-4033

WASHINGTON (June 11) — The NewsGuild-CWA, representing more than 28,000 journalists and other workers across North America, released the following statement from Jon Schleuss, president of The NewsGuild-CWA, on the police targeting of reporters in Los Angeles:

“Journalists covering protests in Los Angeles against ICE immigration raids, including NewsGuild-CWA members, have been targeted by law enforcement with less-lethal rounds and tear gas. Police have fired on local, national and foreign reporters who were only doing their jobs.

“These actions by law enforcement are illegal. They violate California state law and are unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Law enforcement has imperiled the safety of journalists on the job and disregarded the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and the rights of journalists in the United States. Police cannot target journalists for doing their jobs. Every worker has the right to leave work at the end of the day healthy and uninjured.

“The First Amendment protects the right to photograph and record matters of public interest, including the right to record law enforcement officers engaged in the exercise of their official duties in public spaces. Journalists reporting on events and not interfering with federal operations cannot be subject to general dispersal orders, and they cannot be unreasonably searched or have their equipment seized.

“The NewsGuild-CWA strongly condemns the targeting of journalists by multiple law enforcement agencies. We demand that every law enforcement agency take steps to ensure the safety of all journalists and open investigations into any officer violating the rights of journalists doing their jobs.

“Journalists play a crucial role in holding power to account, particularly during times of crisis and protest. When law enforcement targets reporters, it’s not just an attack on individuals; it’s an attack on every American’s right to a free press. The U.S. government must defend that freedom, not undermine it. Journalism is not a crime.”

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ABOUT THE NEWSGUILD-CWA

The NewsGuild-CWA fights for justice on the job for journalists, media and nonprofit workers. As the largest union of journalists in North America and a sector of the Communications Workers of America, the Guild is one of the fastest-growing unions in the country—more than 11,000 workers have organized with us since 2018.

A letter to Kristi Noem: The targeting of reporters in LA is inexcusable.

(The following letter was sent to Kristi Noem, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, on June 9, 2025 by a coalition of press organizations concerning the targeting of journalists during unrest in Los Angeles.)

Staff union supporting Starbucks workers wins strong first contracts

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Washington Post Tech Guild overwhelmingly votes to certify union in historic election

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2025
Contact: Kathleen Floyd, kathleenfloyd18@gmail.com

In a 171-38 blowout vote, The Washington Post Tech Guild has officially won its union election, marking a significant milestone for over 300 technology workers across engineering, product design, and data roles at The Washington Post. After weeks of aggressive union-busting tactics from Washington Post management, tech workers at The Post persevered and have been recognized by the National Labor Relations Board. This is the first successful organizing effort to take place at The Post under Jeff Bezos’ ownership.

Washington Post tech workers first announced the formation of their union on April 7, 2025.

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In landslide election, Hearst journalists vote to unionize and demand company begin bargaining immediately

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2025

Contact: connecticutnewsguild@gmail.com

CONNECTICUT – Reporters, photographers, editors and digital producers working for Connecticut’s largest print/digital news organization have voted overwhelmingly to form a union with The NewsGuild-CWA, joining newsrooms around the country by claiming a voice in decisions about their working conditions, pay, protections against unfair discipline and more.

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