Yesterday, more than 100 reporters, photographers, editors and digital producers in Connecticut’s largest newsroom unionized and formed the Connecticut News Guild. The staff of Hearst Connecticut Media Group went public with about 85% of the workers signing union cards.
Staff presented Hearst with a mission statement signed by the majority of our unit and asked the company to voluntarily recognize their union. Management quickly wrote back saying they don’t plan to voluntarily recognize the union.
“We’re passionate about our livelihoods and the service we provide to our readers,” digital producer Adrian Szkolar said. “That’s why we’re coming together as one. We want to have a seat at the table and work with Hearst to be sure that our quality work will continue in the future.”
These workers launched their union, picking a whale for their logo and are going to fight to build joy and unity — while working hard to keep our communities informed. Support them by writing a letter to Hearst management. Follow them @CTnewsguild.
Earlier this week, the Daily News Union – a unit of The NewsGuild of New York – sent an open letter to NYPD brass, demanding an apology after the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry attempted to physically intimidate Rocco Parascandola, the Daily News police bureau chief, following a press conference last week.
The response from the NYPD was not an apology, an offer to discuss what took place, or even a response to Daughtry’s conduct, but instead the agency took to social media to post an unsigned, belligerent rant in an attempt to smear the reporter in question and target the Daily News Union.
The NewsGuild of New York Executive Committee and I then released a statement Wednesday demanding an apology and an investigation.
“Police officers cannot trample over the U.S. Constitution and violate the rights of a free press in a democracy,” I said. “Our union represents more than 27,000 journalists and other workers across North America and firmly stands with our NewsGuild of New York and Daily News Union family. We will not tolerate the NYPD’s efforts to intimidate journalists who are simply doing their jobs. We call for an investigation and a public apology from NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban.”
And then yesterday the NYPD Deputy Commissioner met with Rocco and wrote, “We cleared the air, cleared up some misunderstandings and realized we have a lot more in common than you would think.”
Collective action works.
I am proud that all of us stood with our members at the Daily News Union and with all journalists who shine a light into the dark corners of our communities.
Striking Pittsburgh Post Gazette journalist Helen Fallon penned an inspiring piece in the union’s strike publication, the Pittsburgh Union Progress, about having a career bookended by strikes.
“At 71, I could walk away. But I can’t,” she wrote. “I owe it to my colleagues who had the courage to take a stand in October 2022. […] I will be here until this strike ends. I know it will. I know that again I will be on the right side of Pittsburgh labor history.”
Please donate to support our striking family at the Post-Gazette.