490 days after he was unjustly detained by Russian authorities, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is finally coming home.
Throughout Evan’s unjust detention, members of IAPE TNG-CWA Local 1096, Dow Jones employees, and supporters everywhere changed their social media avatars and members distributed “Free Evan Now” buttons as fast as IAPE could deliver them to show support for Evan and press freedom.
As I said in a statement following the news of his release: “North America’s journalists are thrilled that WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich is being released. Journalism is not a crime. Russia’s actions to arrest & sentence Evan were a disgrace. NewsGuild-CWA will always stand with journalists & fight for press freedom.”
Unionized journalists at The Atlantic, led by a group of the magazine’s most prominent writers, presented a letter to editorial management on Thursday demanding that the company put their journalism first when it comes to AI.
On May 29, The Atlantic announced it had entered into a deal with OpenAI. Ever since, the union has demanded details about the deal and its impact on their work. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, and other Atlantic executives have rebuffed The Atlantic Union’s calls for complete transparency and details on the deal.
“We want the company to stop prioritizing its bottom line and champion The Atlantic’s journalism by bringing a meaningful proposal on AI to the bargaining table,” the letter says.
Help The Atlantic Union show management that the magazine is for humans, by humans.
At the Alden Global Capital-owned Chicago Tribune, unionized journalists are launching a campaign to demonstrate the value of a newspaper that is produced by human journalists, not AI.
Alden wants to be able to replace longtime newsroom positions with outsourced work and wire services, potentially axing years of experience and expertise that Tribune readers rely on.
The Chicago Tribune Guild is currently bargaining for a new contract with Alden, where AI is a top bargaining priority. Follow their social media to support and read testimonials from local journalists.
This week, the New York Times Tech Guild staged a practice picket outside The New York Times office to show management they are organized and ready to do whatever it takes to win the contract they deserve.
The New York Times Tech Guild, who help produce some of your favorite morning brain games and recipes, had some inventive picket chants, including: “No contract, no Cooking! No contract, no Games!”
Also in New York, The New Yorker Union is signaling it will do whatever it takes to reach a fair contract. The union presented management with a pledge signed by 101 New Yorker Union members—99% of their bargaining unit—asserting that they are ready to stand together and strike if necessary.
In 2021, the New Yorker Union ratified its first contract, enshrining just cause, wage increases, and other historic improvements. But with the contract having expired at the end of July, New Yorker journalists are serious about winning the strongest possible contract for their members.
Workers at the nonprofit newsroom Prism Reports announced this week they are unionizing. In forming Prism Workers United, workers seek a seat at the table in shaping what a fair, equitable, and compassionate workplace can be.
Of the 10 members of the collective bargaining unit, 100% have signed cards indicating their desire to organize with the Pacific Media Workers Guild.
“Even progressive workplaces like Prism need a union,” said Features Editor Tina Vásquez. “I’m joining the union because I want to help shape the future of our newsroom.”
Hours after going public, Prism management voluntarily recognized the union. Congratulations to yet another unionized non-profit newsroom!
The California state legislature returns next week, potentially advancing two landmark journalism bills in the state.
The California Journalism Preservation Act (AB 886) would make major online platforms like Google and Meta pay outlets for news they host on their sites, while California SB 1327 would fund $500 million in local journalism jobs a year by imposing a data-mining fee on Big Tech, including Google, Meta, and Amazon.
You can learn more about the NewsGuild’s legislative priorities here.
In Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed that striking union workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette were legally allowed to picket on company property and did not violate labor law by conducting pickets.
“This affirms again that the workers on strike have been in the right and that the Post-Gazette continues to throw money away and burn it on legal cases rather than negotiating with employees,” said Zack Tanner, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh.
You can read more about the court ruling in the Pittsburgh Union Progress, the strike publication for striking Pittsburgh Post Gazette workers.