Journalists at The Courier Journal have overwhelmingly ratified their first-ever union contract, marking a major milestone for newsroom workers at Kentucky’s paper of record.
The ratification caps years of organizing by Courier Journal journalists, who voted by a landslide margin to form the Courier Journal Guild in 2022 and join the Indianapolis NewsGuild, TNG-CWA Local 34070. Since winning, members have bargained with parent company USA Today Co. (Formerly Gannett) amid repeated rounds of layoffs and cost-cutting across the company. The contract represents a critical step toward stability, fairness and a stronger future for local journalism in Louisville.
Highlights of the contract include stronger workplace protections and improved benefits, including expanded parental leave and wage increases for newsroom employees. The Courier Journal is the most recent newsroom owned by USA Today Co. to unionize, following organizing efforts at other shops owned by the company at The Columbus Dispatch, Evansville Courier & Press, and The Palm Beach Post.
“This is a day so many people in our newsroom have been waiting on, one of the brightest moments of my nearly 10 years with The Courier Journal, and I’m beyond thrilled to see us cross the finish line,” said Lucas Aulbach, Chief Politics Reporter at The Courier Journal.
“I’m happy for every journalist in line for a raise, I’m happy we have new workforce protections in place and benefits like lengthier parental leave, and the response we had from our guild members as we got closer to ratification has been really encouraging. We have a ton of momentum and I’m excited to see what comes next.”
“After years of organizing, we are thrilled with this unanimous endorsement of a first contract that improves everyone’s paycheck and enshrines critical workplace protections,” said Kayla Dwyer, President of the Indianapolis NewsGuild.
“Every day, our newsroom produces reporting that is critical to our neighborhoods, our city and Kentucky as a whole,” said Josh Wood, a reporter at The Courier Journal. “This contract ensures they are doing that important work with more workplace protections and better pay.”