Tag: Mobilization

In blistering heat, Philadelphia Guild fights layoffs

June 27, 2019 – Members of The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia protested impending layoffs in blistering heat on June 26, chanting, “Save local news!” Turnout was tremendous, President Diane Mastrull wrote on the local’s website.

“Now we wait to see if wisdom and true innovation prevail.”

Union leaders will meet with managers on June 28 and expect to find out if they plan to proceed with layoffs at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Twenty-two members have opted for buyouts, but the company wanted to eliminate 30 positions.

Under the local’s collective bargaining agreement, the company is required to give 15 days’ notice of a layoff. Following a notice, the union can file an appeal.

In the meantime, the union is asking members to encourage their family and friends to send emails to Terry Egger, publisher of the Inquirer, and urge him to “do the right thing for journalism and this city” by preserving the jobs.

 

Missourians Upend State’s ‘Right-to-Work’ Plan

September 2017 – After failing to pass “right-to-work” bills for a decade, Missouri’s state legislature finally pushed through the famously anti-labor law in February.

But the working people of Missouri had something else in mind. Continue reading “Missourians Upend State’s ‘Right-to-Work’ Plan”

In First-Ever Coordinated Actions, GateHouse, DFM Workers Stand Up for Press Freedom

May 4, 2017 – NewsGuild-CWA members at 28 digital media companies owned by Gatehouse Media and Digital First Media (DFM) observed World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with coordinated actions to support quality journalism at the papers and to highlight the damage wrought by severe cuts in their newsrooms and other departments.

The activities, which included rallies and displays of signs and banners at work stations, aimed to raise awareness of the growing threat that “vulture” hedge funds pose to the nation’s community newspapers. Union leaders say the newspaper owners’ excessive profiteering threatens journalism at a critical time of politicized attacks on the news media. The events marked the first coordinated acts of solidarity by GateHouse and DFM workers. Continue reading “In First-Ever Coordinated Actions, GateHouse, DFM Workers Stand Up for Press Freedom”

Boston Herald Employees Boycott Twitter After Management Suspends Reporter

Managers at the Boston Herald got an unwelcome surprise after they suspended reporter Chris Villani – allegedly for violating the company’s social media policy. The 2013 policy, which requires reporters to get approval from the Executive Editor or his designee prior to tweeting breaking news, had never been enforced before.

Reporters launched a Twitter boycott – blacking out their profile images and refraining from tweeting. Continue reading “Boston Herald Employees Boycott Twitter After Management Suspends Reporter”