Journalists at Al Día and The Dallas Morning News announce election filing celebration: “We did it. Now, count the votes.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dom DiFurio
DallasNewsGuild@gmail.com
469-645-8617
DALLAS -- Journalists from across the newsroom of Al Día Dallas and The Dallas Morning News will gather at 5 p.m. Monday (Aug. 10) to celebrate a milestone in their historic quest to form a newsroom union, the Dallas News Guild.
Members of the guild’s organizing committee filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board Monday morning and notified management of its action.
Reporters, copy editors, photographers, digital specialists and other journalists will gather at 5 p.m. outside their building at 1954 Commerce Street for a “Family Meeting: Count the Vote” event. Supporters will try to present more than 400 letters from community supporters to Publisher Grant Moise.
The Dallas News Guild is part of the NewsGuild, a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
The supporters’ goal is for A.H. Belo to voluntarily recognize the union, which would then prompt the Dallas News Guild to withdraw its election petition.
In a letter to the guild on July 28, Moise asked supporters to wait a year before filing. However, organizers say that Belo’s refusal to recognize the union, in effect, is a delay tactic which denies employees’ legal right to collectively bargain. Journalists at other similar family-owned newspapers like the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Boston Globe enjoy union protections.
“We hope Belo won’t delay this any longer than is necessary. Our seat at the table cannot wait,” said Dallas Morning News reporter Dom DiFurio.
A community leader will join the Dallas News Guild to perform a confidential count of the authorization cards at the gathering on Monday. Supporters hope the card count will aid management in realizing it is worth their time to recognize the union immediately instead of waiting for several weeks.
An overwhelming majority of newsroom employees have joined the effort, which, organizers say, is designed to save a time-honored news organization by strengthening local journalism.
Community supporters are invited to join the Dallas News Guild. Social distancing is encouraged and masks will be worn.
“It’s a celebration of our efforts to work together as a team,” longtime reporter Dave Tarrant said.
The guild asked management three weeks ago to voluntarily recognize the union and avoid the distraction and cost of a union-busting campaign, led by high priced lawyers hired by management.
Once the election is won, a bargaining committee will be formed to meet with management and negotiate a contract that protects journalists and builds a stronger newsroom.
Read about our goals here in the Mission Statement.
