What The Guild is doing

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, The NewsGuild-CWA has been fighting for:

  • Inclusion of news industry workers in the next COVID-19 stimulus packages. We won this fight in December 2020. (read more)
  • Paid time off for any COVID-19 illnesses
  • Overtime pay for employees who work more than 40 hours, or beyond the limit set in their contracts
  • The right to work from home whenever possible
  • Ergonomic equipment and setups for employees working at home
  • The right to refuse assignments due to health and safety concerns without reprisals of any kind
  • Safety equipment for anyone working in the field (including disinfectant wipes, alcohol spray, hand sanitizer, N95 masks, gloves and more)
  • Safety measures to protect anyone who has to continue working at the office or in the field
  • Principles for returning to office work
Samantha Gross, a staff writer at the Miami Herald, interviews a source in early 2020.

We are also limiting travel by our representatives and organizers, to protect their health and the public’s. Our staffers continue to work from home and are available by phone and email.  

We continue to organize and if you’re interested in joining our union, contact us.  

We’ll continue to share resources and information with our members and our locals as we work through this crisis together.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at guild@cwa-union.org.

How workers can stay safe

Journalists have a critical mission: to report the news. The pandemic shows how important their role is. But it’s important to also make sure journalists are protecting their own health and safety. 

Sing ‘Solidarity Forever’ while washing your hands. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Follow the safety protocols by the CDC and:

  • Get vaccinated and boosted.
  • Social distance. Keep at least six feet from others.
  • Avoid groups of 10 or more people.
  • Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds or more.
  • Avoid contact with anyone showing signs of respiratory illness.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough with your elbow.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Work from home whenever possible and use Facetime, Zoom, Skype and phone calls to limit your exposure.
  • Limit all non-essential travel.

Also consider:

  • Decline assignments that could expose you to risks if you have concerns about your health and safety.
  • Be aware that you might be contagious even if you have no symptoms.
  • Find out what protocols your employer has established and contact your local union leadership if you have any questions. Contact us (guild@cwa-union.org) if you don’t know who that is. 
  • Be aware of your own mental health while in social isolation and under extreme stress. 
  • Keep work and life separate. Set a time to stop working every day.
  • Get sufficient sleep, unplug before bed, exercise, eat healthy foods, hydrate and take vitamins to make sure you’re getting proper nutrition. 
  • Be kind to yourself. You’re also experiencing this crisis and it’s important to rethink how you view being productive during the pandemic.
  • Be kind to your colleagues and offer support to people around you. 
  • Be aware that we’re all working differently and not everyone adapts the same way. 
  • Talk with others if you’re feeling stress. Seek professional help if necessary.
  • It’s OK to take a mental health day and unplug from social media or the news to recharge and focus on your own health.

How to support journalists

Join our fight to Save The News. Many publications are seeing massive drops in advertising revenue and need community support to continue to share life-saving news. Support them if you can. If you already subscribe, ask someone else to subscribe.

More resources