The Longview NewsGuild writes to support the @EverettGuild through today's picket and the rest of their contract negotiations with the paper's new owners. The actions taken by Carpenter Media last week show the need for strong contract protections in Everett.
This deal raises all members' pay to at least $19 per hour, raises the minimum mileage reimbursement, and locks in this contract for a full year.
This is an important milestone to help the current staff and invest in the future of the Daily News.
We have officially passed our new contract!
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday afternoon, the Longview NewsGuild members approved a contract we have spent months negotiating. Thanks to all of our current and former members who helped to secure these increases.
Thank you to Mallory and @nwlaborpress for highlighting and spreading the word about this effort.
@LeeEntNews needs to invest in local newsrooms so we can better serve our communities.
#LeeUnionsRaisingAwareness
Reporting on this story made my heart ache for my former newsroom. Big shoutouts to @katiefbanks, @longviewguild, and @LeeUnions for speaking out against gross decisions by Lee Enterprises that will hurt local journalists and the communities we love.
https://t.co/eRD3lv8qhw
The Daily News just made the change to printing three days a week. The rollout so far has not made us less worried about Lee's short-sighted moves and lack of real investment in our staff.
#LeeUnionsRaisingAwareness
Journalists across the country are speaking out this week against destructive business decisions by media chain Lee Enterprises. Chronic disinvestment and @LeeEntNews' latest move to slash daily printing of many newspapers is a recipe for failure. #LeeUnionsRaisingAwareness
Weโre again fighting for equitable wages that put us on track with our peers in the region and reflect the realities of this countyโs growing cost of living.
We will have more updates in the coming weeks, and appreciate the communityโs ongoing support! (3/3)
Hello all! We were back at the bargaining table today starting negotiations on our second contract!
Building on last yearโs efforts, our new proposals call for @LeeEntNews to invest in our newsroom. (1/3)
The companyโs recent layoffs at papers nationwide are a frustrating step in the wrong direction. Lee needs to recognize the worth of its hard working journalists, including those in Longview. (2/3)
The pattern of cuts and disinvestment in local journalism by Lee Enterprises must end. The unionized newspapers of @LeeEntNews call on Lee to invest in local communities and in its print, digital and customer services for its own survival. Our statement: https://t.co/EPhljzySHq
Then, of course, thereโs the nice bit of portfolio padding @LeeEntNews executives got before the holidays. This is shameful behavior. Lee must start putting its readers and workers before corporate executives.
https://t.co/oHkkKWkIS5
@ByJonHarris@LeeEntNews If you're looking at Lee's financials, check out the stock given to Lee's corp executives in Davenport on 12/13/22. More than 47,000 shares of stock, worth about $854,000. Nice Christmas gift to themselves while they layoff journalists, ask for furloughs https://t.co/tYWE8nYIjl
We were horrified to learn today that @LeeEntNews unceremoniously laid off a member of our advertising staff. She and her colleagues have been fighting to join the newsroom union at the Longview Daily News.
Longview isnโt the only @LeeEntNews facing draconian cuts. Our colleagues at the @BuffaloGuild have been through the wringer already this year.
https://t.co/bO22s9VBWI
๐งต (1/8) Companies like @SoundPublishing are now required to post salary ranges in job postings thanks to a new pay transparency law. Weโre grateful for the new law, but frustrated at the dismal starting wages and even lower pay for some existing @EverettHerald employees.
We are calling on Lee Enterprises to make the right decision, and to voluntarily recognize their addition to our unit so we can begin bargaining for a full contract quickly in 2023.
@PacNWGuild@NewsGuild
Our union is growing! Today, the advertising staff of the Longview Daily News has petitioned to join the Longview NewsGuild.
We have asked Lee Enterprises for voluntary recognition of their addition, but absent that, there will be an election in the new year.
1/4
Staffing has shrunk. Our wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living in our community. Job descriptions and duties have become unclear. Changes need to be made to support the entire paper.
3/4