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Tech workers at the New York Times are going to have their ballots counted this week! The 600-person bargaining unit will be the largest group of workers to unionize with the Guild in decades. And it will become the largest group of tech workers with collective bargaining rights in the United States. It’s only happening because of the workers themselves, the support of the NewsGuild of New York, CODE-CWA and thousands of you — NewsGuild members. I’ll be heading to NYC this week to join the workers and plan to celebrate! Follow along with the workers on Twitter.
Journalists at the Charlotte Observer announced Friday they are forming the Charlotte Observer News Guild to protect local journalism in their city. They’re asking McClatchy, which owns the Observer, to recognize their union “so they can begin bargaining for a contract that will ensure a diverse, strong, committed newsroom.”
“Above all, we want to see the newsroom succeed,” they said. “This city deserves a lasting newspaper — somewhere journalists can call home for years. That’s what we’re working together toward.”
We’re excited to have them! Welcome!
60 Minutes aired a story yesterday featuring NewsGuild member Evan Brandt: “For the last 24 years, he’s chronicled this community of 23,000 for the local newspaper, the Mercury, which at one time had dozens of reporters. Now, Brandt is literally the last reporter standing in Pottstown,” correspondent Jon Wertheim said.
The segment exposed the danger financial firms that own nearly a third of the daily papers in the U.S. pose to local news.
“These new owners are often committed not to headlines and deadlines, but to bottom lines,” correspondent Jon Wertheim reported.
Brandt said the worst culprit is the hedge fund Alden Global Capital, which bought the Mercury in 2011, sold the paper’s building and slashed newsroom staff by about 70%. That’s “severe even by the standards of the newspaper sector that has seen an astounding 57% job loss since 2008.”
“It all prompts the question: as local newsrooms and local news coverage shrivel up, to what extent does democracy shrink with it?” As I’ve often said, it’s an existential threat.
Check out the segment and share it on social media: too many people don’t know how bad Alden is for local news. Also, check out a 60 Minutes Overtime piece that discusses legislative options for addressing the issue. As I’ve said many times, tax credits much be tied to jobs. Otherwise the money will end up in the pockets of Alden’s owners.
Members of New York Mag Union voted unanimously last week to ratify their first contract. As I reported here last month, their 2.5 years of mobilizing their members throughout the negotiating process paid off!
Their outstanding accomplishments include a $60,000 salary floor, which includes raises of more than $20,000 for their most underpaid members, and guaranteed yearly increases of between 2.75% and 3.25%.
They also won “just cause” protection, strong layoff language, severance pay 12 to 32 weeks, more recuperation time for employees who work long hours, limits on increases in healthcare costs, more flexibility for paid parental leave and family leave, and more paid time off for part-time staff.
In addition, they won a requirement that at least 35% of interviewees for all job categories must come from traditionally underrepresented communities, a strong policy on intellectual property rights, a ban on non-disclosure agreements in harassment or discrimination settlements, and an agreement that ensures our members will not be required to work from the office in unsafe conditions, and monthly home office expense reimbursement for employees working remotely.
After 18 months of bargaining for a first contract, members of the NBC NewsGuild reached a tentative agreement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion this month. This transformative step is another example of the power of open bargaining.
Throughout negotiations, NBC had fought to strip the union proposal of all enforcement mechanisms.
But when union members packed a bargaining session, they addressed NBC’s top newsroom leaders with personal stories detailing the company’s shortcomings.
For 40 minutes current and former unit members shared their emotional and exhausting experiences with newsroom microaggressions, pay inequity, and lack of opportunity. “The company’s response? ‘We need to take a break.’”
By the end of the day, they had come to an agreement — and one with teeth: The company must increase opportunities for promotions, participate in joint DEI committee meetings regularly, and respect and support employees’ gender identities.
The company also must maintain diversity in the interview process. 50% of applicants who are chosen for initial interviews must be women and 50% must be people of color. NBC fought hardest against accountability on this issue, but workers won it.
“It shouldn’t’ve taken this long — or this much work — but we are so proud of our members for speaking up to help get this language approved,” the unit tweeted. “When we fight, we win. Up next: a pay study, just cause, and a whole lot more.”
Members of the Alliance for Justice Union voted unanimously Feb. 15 to ratify the first union contract in the organization’s 43-year history.
Workers made significant progress on their three top priorities: salaries – especially for junior workers – health insurance and protections against discrimination. They also won improvements in leave, work hours, remote work and other benefits.
Minimum salaries will run from $50,000 per year for associates and $60,000 for senior associates to $104,000 for senior counsels, senior strategists and directors. Employees who perform bilingual work will receive $4,000 enhancements. All union members will receive annual 3.5% cost-of-living increases and one year of backpay.
“The piece I’m most excited about is when we list out what discriminatory behavior can include,” said Aaron True, a member of the negotiating team. The contract says, “Examples of discriminatory behavior include, but are not limited to, excluding, ignoring, sidelining, or belittling staff during meetings, discussions, or decision-making in the course of work, on the basis of a protected characteristic or activity.” These examples reflect the way discrimination in the workplace is often felt, but not often addressed. The nondiscrimination clause also expands protection well beyond the traditional categories.
Workers at End Citizens United/Let America Vote announced Friday that they are unionizing. The organization’s core mission is to ensure that everyone has a voice and the freedom to participate in our democracy.
“We take pride at working at this organization and believe that our union will only make us stronger,” staffers said in a Mission Statement.
They are seeking more equitable pay, stronger diversity and inclusion practices, job protections and a say in how decisions are made about their workplace.
Alondra Vidal Díaz, a political assistant, said workers are committed to ECU/LAV “because it’s our passion, but we want a little more money.”
Join me in welcoming them to our union!
Workers at Grist won voluntary recognition of the Grist Union after a neutral third party confirmed that more than 90 percent of employees had signed union cards indicating their desire to organize. Grist is a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories about climate solutions and a just future.
“This is a great step forward and a fabulous opportunity for Grist and the nascent Grist Union,” said Clayton Aldern, a senior data reporter and member of the organizing committee. “With their swift recognition of our union, Grist management demonstrated respect for this effort and for staff wellbeing writ large.”
They’re looking forward to working with Grist management and the board at the bargaining table, united in their shared commitment to making their organization a widely respected voice on climate change, a magnet for talent in its field, and an institution that all of its employees can be proud of, staffers said in the mission statement.
New York’s new unionization movement, by Annie McDonough for NY City & State, is worth a read. She notes, “It’s not just new industries that are forming picket lines and union campaigns. The NewsGuild, which represents media, nonprofit and publishing workers across the country, was formed in the 1930s, during the nation’s post-Great Depression labor reform movement… For the past several years, online and print outlets have launched unionization campaigns, contributing to what observers called at first a ‘wave,’ and now a ‘movement.’”
And if you like Alden-bashing as much as I do, you’ll enjoy Julie Reynolds’ latest, When a hedge fund’s shell game backfires: Lee strikes back at Alden after courtroom victory.
The New York Times Member Organizer Program is an exciting opportunity for rank-and-file Guild members to work side-by-side with Guild staff at the New York Times to build worker power from the bottom up. Member Organizers will train other members to solidify their organizing infrastructure and take collective action to secure the strongest contracts in the industry.
If selected to be a New York Times Member Organizer, you will be expected to work a minimum of 5 hours a week, up to 10 hours, for six months. Member Organizers will be paid $28/hour. Submit applications no later than Friday, March 11. Direct any questions to Stephanie Basile at sbasile@cwa-union.org.
Some great training sessions are scheduled. Check them out!
Effective Meeting Facilitation, 6:30-7:30 pm ET, Tues., March 1.
Running effective meetings is a key part of building a strong union! But do your union meetings drag on too long? Does it feel like the same people are always talking? Is not enough getting done? Are the meetings just plain boring? Well, you are not alone! Learn how to create a strong agenda, stay on task, get real work done, and make the experience enjoyable in the process! Register here.
NewsGuild Strong Side-by-Side Program is focused on effective committee meetings for the month of March. Sign up to be paired with a buddy and together learn, teach and develop powerful meeting skills. Register here.
Finally, a reminder: Labor Notes is hosting its 2022 conference June 17-19 in Chicago. Labor Notes conferences are a great opportunity to learn valuable organizing skills, get reenergized, experience solidarity and have a great time. I plan to be there! Will you?
In solidarity,
Jon Schleuss
President, NewsGuild-CWA
Photo at top: Evan Brandt in the Mercury’s makeshift newsroom — his attic.