Bargaining sessions for DFW’s largest newsroom begin today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leah Waters
DallasNewsGuild@gmail.com
(469) 269-0287
The Dallas News Guild will begin negotiations Tuesday with A.H. Belo as the union works to secure a contract protecting more than 100 workers at Al Día Dallas and The Dallas Morning News — the largest media company bargaining unit in Texas.
The union will be represented in negotiations by a diverse 18-member Bargaining Committee, appointed in November by the guild’s Unit Council. Committee members represent a wide array of newsroom departments and bring years of experience to the table.
In building a strong contract for its workers, the Dallas News Guild is devoted to strengthening local journalism in North Texas and securing its future.
The Dallas News Guild Bargaining Pledge
“I joined the bargaining committee to provide a voice for my newsroom so we can ensure we’ll be around for the people of Texas for the long haul,” said Lauren McGaughy, an investigative reporter and Bargaining Committee member.
Crucial to a journalist’s mission is an environment of fairness and stability, said Al Día reporter and Bargaining Committee member Imelda García.
“Being a journalist is not only a privilege, but also a great responsibility,” García said. “We are not only witnesses of history, but we help build our communities in democracy.”
The Dallas News Guild also wants to work with management to hire and retain talented journalists of all backgrounds, said Bargaining Committee Chair Dom DiFurio.
“This pandemic and the ensuing economic strife has only underscored the need for strong local news outlets,” DiFurio said.
All eligible newsroom employees were invited to attend Tuesday’s bargaining session, which will be held via Zoom.
In a show of strength and solidarity with the Bargaining Committee as they embark on this vital work for their colleagues, dozens of newsroom employees signed a pledge affirming their commitment to fairness and equal opportunity in the workplace.
The pledge reads:
The Dallas News Guild Bargaining Committee believes that no worker should be denied equal opportunity in the workplace. Our talented staffers should be judged on the merits of their work and supported by our corporate ownership with competitive pay and benefits. With the full support of our union colleagues behind us, we will steadfastly represent the interests of our journalists and the community we serve in negotiations with A.H. Belo.
The News — the oldest continuously operated business in Texas and the state’s leading newspaper — is the first major newspaper newsroom in the state to unionize in the modern era.
The Dallas News Guild covers more than 130 journalists across all departments of the newsroom, including reporters, columnists, data journalists, copy editors, librarians, web producers, audio producers, page designers, photographers and videographers. Eligible newsroom workers voted in October by a margin of over 75% to form a union.
The Dallas News Guild is a local chapter of The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America.
Keep up with our bargaining efforts on Twitter — @DallasNewsGuild — and at the NEWS tab at DallasNewsGuild.org.
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