Subscribe to the Guild’s newsletter here.
You’ve waited a long time, and now NewsGuild swag is here. The Guild store opened last week with coveted union-made bomber jackets, hoodies, T-shirt and pins. They all bear the Guild’s new unblinking eye logo, which symbolizes the watchdog role journalists and activists play in protecting our democracy and holding power to account.
We’ll be adding more items in the coming weeks, including a non-leather jacket and coffee mugs. Check out the store and tell me what else you’d like to see!
Members of the Sports Illustrated Union unanimously ratified their first contract with SI management and the Arena Group this month. The deal includes a salary floor of $64,000, guaranteed annual raises of 3%, a transformative policy on metrics-based quotas, big improvements on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a better severance policy, among other things.
Sports Illustrated Union, which represents 94 people, won voluntary recognition in January 2020, with more than 90% of eligible staff in support. They are part of The NewsGuild of New York Local 31003.
During negotiations, union members shared testimonials about the effect of inadequate staffing, long hours and low pay, including the tale of a reporter who was forced to return to work on the second day of paternity leave.
And when management refused to recognize workers’ service with the company prior to its purchase in 2019, they released a letter signed by more than 90% of the members demanding that the company negotiate fair layoff and severance provisions.
600 tech workers at the New York Times are voting right now to formalize the union they formed nine months ago, in April 2021. They’re on their way to becoming the biggest union of tech workers with bargaining rights in the country, despite the hypocritical anti-union campaign by management. They’re part of The NewsGuild of New York Local 31003.
Workers fought back every step of the way, and earlier this month the National Labor Relations Board rejected management’s attempts to disenfranchise nearly 100 workers and to split the group into multiple unions.
The Times’ opposition to the Tech Guild is part of a ramped-up pattern of union-busting by the company. A couple of weeks ago the Times announced it was establishing a better bereavement policy and creating three new paid holidays — Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, and Veterans Day — for non-union employees only.
Show your support for Times Tech Guild members by tweeting messages of solidarity to @NYTGuildTech. Tell them why you’re proud to be a NewsGuild member, what you’ve accomplished or what you’ve learned. They’re also asking for folks to send testimonials here.
Workers at the Wall Street Journal and other Dow Jones properties settled an unfair labor practice charge against the company last week, one day before their NLRB-sanctioned complaint was set for a hearing.
Members of IAPE Local 1096, which is part of The NewsGuild, charged that the company “failed and refused to bargain collectively and in good faith” over their proposals for pandemic benefits and relief to staffers. The proposals included a monthly broadband allowance, enhanced equipment and tech allowance, expansion of dependent care benefits and improvements to the company’s physical fitness program.
Union members said their dogged pursuit of their claims was an important reminder in advance of upcoming contract negotiations: “We’ll do what it takes to protect workplace rights. When we fight, we win!”
Staff members of Justice at Work Pennsylvania, a legal aid nonprofit that supports low-wage workers, are unionizing with The NewsGuild. The Justice at Work Staff Union is seeking voluntary recognition and will become part of the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia.
“My experiences navigating the immigration system from a young age inspired my commitment to social justice, and I chose to work at Justice at Work to continue to advocate for my community,” said Cinthia Ibarra, an employment paralegal.
“Low-wage, immigrant workers are not just clients to me; they are my family and friends, and I personally know the value of legal advocacy and community outreach. By unionizing at Justice at Work, we will lead by example, demonstrating that workers deserve a say in their work.”
That says it all!
Staffers at Canadaland have ratified their first contract, which includes raises and protections for editorial integrity and independence. The workers of the podcast and news organization are members of Canadaland Union and are part of CWA Canada, which is part of The NewsGuild-CWA.
Employees negotiated a 2.5% wage increase effective immediately and in each of the next three years, plus a $500 signing bonus.
Other highlights include language safeguarding editorial integrity and independence and a requirement that if the company sells the rights to create a new work based on something produced by staff (such as a TV adaptation of a podcast), union members who contributed to the creation of the original work receive a share of the revenue from the sale.
The contract also establishes greater consistency in hiring, raises, vacation, leave, orientation and discipline. It includes an increase to employees’ health spending accounts, four weeks of vacation after four years, and severance of three weeks’ pay for each year of service in the event of layoffs.
We’ve got a few great training sessions set for February. Check them out!
Bargaining 101, 2-4 p.m. ET, Sat., Feb. 5. Find out what it’s like to be at the bargaining table and practice how to use your union’s power at the bargaining table. Register here.
Secrets of a Successful Organizer Training Series – Sponsored by Labor Notes
7-9 pm ET, Tues., Feb. 8 – Beating Apathy
7-9 pm ET Tues., Feb. 15 – Assembling Your Dream Team
7-9 pm ET Tues., Feb 22 – Turning an Issue into a Campaign
There’s a $15 registration fee and we’ll cover the first 15 members who commit to attend. If you’re interested, let us know quickly here.
In solidarity,
Jon Schleuss
President, NewsGuild-CWA