Dallas News Guild secures 5 wins in March

Bargaining committee, management reach tentative agreements

Dallas Morning News photographers and reporters log hundreds, if not thousands, of miles driving to assignments every year. Until recently, A.H. Belo reimbursed its employees 38 cents a mile.

After the Dallas News Guild published a story showing the reimbursement rate fell short of other regional papers -- and what the federal government suggests -- the company quickly changed its policy. It upped our reimbursement rate to the IRS-recommended 56 cents a mile, retroactive to Jan. 1. 

The company’s chief financial officer acknowledged that she didn’t know about the discrepancy until the Guild brought it up, and that she wishes she had known sooner. The union’s research is paying off: If an employee drives 1,000 miles, for example, this change helps them recoup nearly $200 more.

This victory was the first of several in March that are saving employees’ money and laying the groundwork for a strong first contract.

Here’s what else you need to know about the five wins from March:

The company will pay all bargaining members for the time they spend at the bargaining table, including hourly employees. Management was initially unwilling to compensate workers for their time during sessions, but we pushed back and ensured our bargaining committee is treated fairly and like an equal partner in this negotiation process. 

We also came to our first three tentative agreements with the company, the first step in establishing a contract that all members will eventually get the chance to vote on. These agreements could still be subject to change, but represent important progress. 

In the first, we agreed on a labor management committee section that sets up a structure for the Guild and management to discuss major changes to employees’ work conditions. 

The company also agreed to collect union dues as part of the payroll process, which we view as an example of the company recognizing our Guild’s legitimacy. The union will not begin collecting dues until we have a contract in place. 

We also agreed on an employee integrity policy, allowing workers to refuse any non-journalistic -- such as “advertorial content” -- duties without penalty. The contract would also allow an employee to protest using their byline. 

The Guild will join management at the bargaining table again next month. Some of our biggest fights remain ahead, including pushing back on the company’s right to outsource our jobs and to fire us without notice. 

We’ll build on March’s momentum in the hopes of protecting and preserving strong, local journalism.

The historic Dallas News Guild is the first newsroom in Texas to organize since before the turn of the century. Learn more at our website at www.DallasNewsGuild.org.

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