Highly profitable DFM again refuses to offer pay increase
Bulletins , Local news , National news

Highly profitable DFM again refuses to offer pay increase

Pacific Media Workers Guild 0 comment

DFM management came to a bargaining session empty-handed, telling a national coalition of NewsGuild representatives that the company’s hedge fund ownership intends to keep employee pay frozen companywide to help maintain its profits. Alden Global Capital, principal owner of Digital First Media, has earned worldwide notoriety for its ruthless staff cuts and double-digit profit margins. The ongoing damage to newsrooms across the country has triggered protests from New York to Denver to the Bay Area.

Read More
After 136 years, the LA Times votes to unionize and our student is nominated delegate
Local news , Opinion

After 136 years, the LA Times votes to unionize and our student is nominated delegate

Pacific Media Workers Guild 0 comment

When the National Labor Relations Board began calling out the votes Jan. 19 from the Los Angeles Times’ Jan. 4 election on whether to unionize, it seemed to be neck and neck, recalled Matt Pearce, a national reporter and union organizer at the Times. Then, the pro-union ballots started to pull away. At one point, 40 yeses in a row were read off, by the count of data journalist Anthony Pesce, also an organizer.

Read More
McClatchy and Guild working on money, metrics and marijuana
Bulletins , Local news

McClatchy and Guild working on money, metrics and marijuana

Pacific Media Workers Guild 0 comment

Bargaining continued in late January, early February at all four McClatchy California units (The Modesto Bee, The Fresno Bee, The Sacramento Bee and News Desk West). Full contracts are up at Modesto, Fresno and News Desk West while Sacramento has a reopener. The guild and company were able to narrow bargaining to a few core issues during each of the sessions. They include the new metrics for page view goals, seniority language in the case of layoffs, minimum salary levels and merit pay scales, equipment reimbursement, and drug policy.

Read More
Campaign escalates as DFM cuts staff
Bulletins , Local news , National news

Campaign escalates as DFM cuts staff

Pacific Media Workers Guild 0 comment

Negotiations for a 2018 wage re-opener covering 13 bargaining units will open soon as Digital First Media ordered a new wave of staff cuts throughout California and in suburban Philadelphia in January. In response, DFM workers are escalating their contract campaign against Alden Global Capital, the New York hedge fund that owns DFM and that has been systematically stripping newspaper assets since 2012.

Read More
Honolulu talks hinge on economics
Bulletins , Local news

Honolulu talks hinge on economics

Pacific Media Workers Guild 0 comment

Guild and management negotiators significantly narrowed the issues blocking agreement on a new labor contract during two days of talks in Honolulu. Our committee managed to elicit a package proposal from the company that would drop many of the onerous proposals it made last year, such as reducing holidays and sick leave, absurd absenteeism terms, restrictions on shop stewards and a weaker grievance procedure. But the company still demands the right to conduct random drug testing.

Read More
Local Election Committee announces results – Anderson wins for local Secretary
Bulletins , Local news

Local Election Committee announces results – Anderson wins for local Secretary

Guild Staff 0 comment

The following statement was issued today by the Local 39521 Elections Committee: Dear Candidates: The Local Elections Committee of the Pacific Media Workers Guild met December 21, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the Guild office to count ballots for the union’s election. Following are the results, certified by the LEC: Local Secretary  Kat Anderson was elected […]

Read More
Local Election Notice 2017
Local news

Local Election Notice 2017

Guild Staff 0 comment

Dear Member: A Local 39521 Election is being conducted by secret mail ballot. Your Election Notice/Ballot and Voting Instructions have been mailed to all members in good standing as of the cutoff established by the Local Election Committee. Please be sure to follow the instructions carefully. You will receive the Notice and Ballot if our records indicate you are […]

Read More