Author: info@dearglobereaders.com

Boston Globe employees prevail in effort to secure new labor contract

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, November 19, 2021

Contact The Boston Newspaper Guild: BostonNewspaperGuildCWA@gmail.com

Boston Globe employees prevail in effort to secure new labor contract

Union wins fight to curb outsourcing at New England’s largest newspaper

BOSTON – Boston Globe employees have prevailed in their effort to secure a new labor contract. The membership of the Boston Newspaper Guild concluded their week-long ratification vote on Friday evening, announcing that the majority of members voted in favor of a new deal that keeps important bumpers on outsourcing and that preserves essential workplace protections.

The contract covers staff members at The Boston Globe, Boston.com, and STAT News service. The contract spans three years and includes an immediate 3% raise and a $1,000 contract-signing bonus for Boston Newspaper Guild members. In the second and third years of the agreement, workers will receive 2% raises.

In the final stages of protracted negotiations, Globe employees went public with the proposals put forth by executives that could have outsourced dozens of local Boston Globe jobs to other states.

Faced with growing public backlash after a series of worker actions, Globe executives abandoned their controversial outsourcing proposals which paved the way for the new contract with the largest unionized portion of The Globe workforce. The Boston Newspaper Guild represents more than 300 employees within Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC.

“This agreement is a big win for journalists, Guild members, and New England readers,” said Scott Steeves, president of BNG. “We rejected Globe management’s short-sighted proposals and stuck together to safeguard journalistic integrity and workplace protections.”

For more than three years Globe journalists have sounded the alarm on the damage executives’ proposals would have done to the fabric of The Globe, including through outreach to elected leaders, Globe readers, and the general public about owners’ misguided outsourcing proposals.

Guild members leafleted outside of Fenway Park, called out Linda Pizzuti Henry at an event for women news leaders, and garnered support from U.S. representatives Katherine Clark and Jim McGovern, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. The senators recently made headlines for their decision to drop out from the 2021 Globe Summit, in solidarity with BNG.

In addition to protecting quality journalism, Globe journalists also notched other key victories, including a new parental-leave policy.

The contract also protects overtime pay, right to arbitration, and just cause provisions, all of which were under threat. It also provides successorship provisions should the Henrys sell the company to outside owners, protecting employees under a leadership change.

After announcing the win, journalists thanked readers and lawmakers for their support, without which it wouldn’t have been possible.

“The past three years have been tough—but our readers stuck with us,” BNG Secretary Kevin Slane shared. “We’re incredibly grateful to our readers for supporting us through these negotiations, and we look forward to continuing the same high-quality work within this new contractual agreement.”

The contract will go into effect in November and remain in effect for three years. The agreement will be the first contract Globe employees have worked under since December 2018.

ABOUT THE BOSTON NEWSPAPER GUILD

The Boston Newspaper Guild (BNG) represents more than 300 Boston Globe employees, including reporters, editors, page designers, photographers, web producers, advertising salespeople, and advertising sales support persons, ad-designers, circulation managers, accountants, marketers, and information technology specialists, shippers/receivers, and secretaries. For decades, its members have produced Pulitzer Prize-winning, nationally-acclaimed work, as well as safeguarding the rights and benefits of Globe employees.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joins top elected officials in supporting Boston Globe employees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Contact The Boston Newspaper Guild: BostonNewspaperGuildCWA@gmail.com

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joins top elected officials in supporting Boston Globe employees

“Throughout the pandemic, reporters have been out in our communities bringing us the vital information that we need and we rely on. There’s just no substitution for that.” - AG Maura Healey

BOSTON, MA – In a video statement released today, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey voiced support for the Boston Newspaper Guild employees who have been in protracted labor negotiations for over 1,000 days.

Healey is the latest in a growing list of high-ranking elected officials to throw their support behind Globe workers. Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey also called on the Globe’s billionaire owners John Henry and Linda Pizzuti Henry to drop their outsourcing proposals and resolve the ongoing labor dispute.

The statement from Attorney General Healey read:

“I’m proud to stand with the members of the Boston Newspaper Guild. A free press and fact-based journalism are essential to a vibrant democracy. Throughout the pandemic, reporters have been out in our communities bringing us the vital information that we need and we rely on. There’s just no substitution for that. The dedicated employees at The Globe and STAT News service work around the clock to do just that — bring us journalism we can trust. I support the reporters, editors, page designers, and so many others who work to bring us the news every day. They’ve made The Boston Globe the Pulitzer-prize-winning, nationally acclaimed newspaper that it is. These workers have been without a contract for far too long. I encourage The Globe leadership to continue to bargain in good faith and to swiftly reach a resolution.”

Representatives Katherine Clark (D-Mass) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass) also expressed solidarity with Guild members at The Boston Globe earlier this year.

For nearly three years, Boston Globe executives have advanced wrong-headed outsourcing proposals that would undermine the newspaper’s award-winning journalism. The newspaper’s owners are represented by the Trump campaign’s notorious law firm Jones Day.

Globe employees say they’ll continue to fight to maintain the same high-quality, independent journalism readers count on, and to keep the Globe’s reporting local. In a recent internal poll, an overwhelming majority of the Boston Newspaper Guild members said they would support a strike authorization vote.

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U.S. Senator Warren and U.S. Senator Markey step back from Boston Globe Summit in support of Globe employees

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Thursday, September 23, 2021

Contact The Boston Newspaper Guild: BostonNewspaperGuildCWA@gmail.com

U.S. Senator Warren and U.S. Senator Markey step back from Boston Globe Summit in support of Globe employees

In unity with members of Boston Newspaper Guild, leaders heed call to withdraw from event

BOSTON, MA – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Edward Markey both announced that they’ve pulled out of this week’s ongoing Boston Globe event, Globe Summit 2021: The Great Recovery, amidst growing labor unrest at the Boston news organization. Boston Globe employees have been forced to work without a contract for nearly 1,000 days as they fight to fend off owners’ proposals that could lead to widespread outsourcing of much of The Globe’s news operations to locations outside of New England.

Senator Markey issued the following statement in support of the employees.

“I stand with members of the Boston Newspaper Guild and their fight to secure a fair labor contract,” said Senator Markey. “All of the workers at The Boston Globe and STAT News – from journalists to security guards, to administrative and delivery staff – support the effort to produce the highest-quality journalism. These workers are ensuring a strong democracy, informed communities, and a healthy economy throughout New England. The Guild members and their families deserve a fair contract now. I urge The Boston Globe management to negotiate and settle a fair contract with workplace protections for these workers without further delay.”

In a recent video message, Senator Warren stated:

“I stand with the members of the Boston Newspaper Guild in their fight to secure a fair labor contract — the workers at The Boston Globe and STAT News, from reporters to security guards, shippers and receivers and more. They all contribute toward producing high-quality journalism that is crucial to a vibrant democracy and to strong communities all across Massachusetts and New England. I urge the Boston Globe management to settle a fair contract with workplace protections these journalists and staff deserve.”

Boston Globe staff thanked the Senators for their efforts to keep Boston Globe’s reporting local.

“We’re so grateful that our elected leaders see the importance of keeping The Boston Globe’s reporting local — and not outsourcing these jobs to far-away locations,” stated Scott Steeves, President of the Boston Newspaper Guild.

BACKGROUND

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Senator Markey Statement in Support of Boston Newspaper Guild

Washington (September 22, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on negotiations between the Boston Newspaper Guild and The Boston Globe.

“The guild members and their families deserve a fair contract now. I urge The Boston Globe management to negotiate and settle a fair contract with workplace protections for these workers without further delay.”

U.S. Senator Warren and Congressional members Clark and McGovern rebuke anti-union tactics by Boston Globe executives

August 16, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact The Boston Newspaper Guild:
BostonNewspaperGuildCWA@gmail.com

U.S. Senator Warren and Congressional members Clark and McGovern rebuke anti-union tactics by Boston Globe executives

Warren, McGovern, Clark join call for John Henry and Linda Pizzuti Henry to settle simmering labor dispute with employees

BOSTON – Hundreds of employees at The Boston Globe, who are crying foul over their treatment by billionaire owners John Henry and Linda Pizzuti Henry, are receiving a major boost in their efforts to be treated fairly at New England’s largest newspaper and online news outlet.

Offering their support for both the importance of a free press and basic fairness for the workers who help to write, edit, and produce The Boston Globe, three leading elected officials joined a growing wave of public support. In separate video statements, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Congresswoman Katherine Clark have recently voiced solidarity for the nearly 300 Globe workers who say executives are seeking contract language that could outsource their jobs and livelihoods.

Keeping the news local has become a key theme of the workers’ message in recent weeks as Henry and Pizzuti Henry continue to push terms that could lead to the majority of The Boston Globe’s reporting and editing being done outside New England.

Workers say it’s unclear if Henry and Pizzuti Henry are pushing the outsourcing language as a matter of greed, control, or simply wanting to prime the publication for a future sale to new owners.

Globe employees have worked without a contract and its protections for more than 900 days as the paper’s executives deployed former Trump campaign law firm Jones Day to force toxic, anti-union proposals on Globe workers that strip them of essential workplace rights. While draining Globe resources on the high-priced law firm, Globe executives have continued to offer shortsighted, out-of-touch proposals.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren challenged Globe executives to settle the long-simmering dispute in a recent message.

“I urge the Boston Globe management to settle a fair contract with workplace protections these journalists and staff deserve,” Warren said, later adding, “I’m with these workers all the way.”

Congresswoman Katherine Clark echoed the Senator’s sentiment in a separate message.

“Journalists at the Globe and STAT News Service and the hardworking people that help deliver the news to our front stoops and inboxes each morning deserve dignity and respect on the job,” Clark said. “They deserve better pay and job security. They deserve an equitable contract.”

In a straw poll held earlier this year, an overwhelming majority of Globe Guild employees voted to support strike authorization powers for Guild leadership should negotiations fail. As negotiations head toward the three-year mark, worker patience is wearing thin, and employees are ready to act.

Adding his support, Congressman Jim McGovern made clear that it’s high time for Globe executives to reach a long-overdue agreement with its award-winning staff and to reach it now.

“Here’s the bottom line: You all deserve better,” McGovern said. “You deserve a fair contract that recognizes the invaluable — literally invaluable — service that you provide to our democracy. You deserve job security and workplace protections that reflect the important work that you do.”

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The Boston Newsguild (BNG) represents more than 300 Boston Globe employees, including reporters, editors, page designers, photographers, web producers, advertising salespeople, and advertising sales support persons, ad-designers, circulation managers, accountants, marketers, and information technology specialists, shippers/receivers, and secretaries. For decades, its members have produced Pulitzer Prize-winning, nationally-acclaimed work, as well as safeguarding the rights and benefits of Globe employees.

Joint Letter to Boston Globe Executives

Workforce unrest spreads at Boston Globe

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CONTACT: BostonNewspaperGuildCWA@gmail.com

Workforce unrest spreads at Boston Globe.

Three different unions denounce “hostile” and “harmful” tactics by executives at New England’s largest newspaper

BOSTON, MA – Workers from three different labor organizations at New England’s largest newspaper are joining in chorus to decry working conditions and “harmful tactics” by John Henry and Linda Pizzuti Henry’s executive team. Together, the three groups represent hundreds of workers in nearly every department throughout The Boston Globe’s operations, including truck drivers, reporters, photographers and more.

After drawing heat for engaging former President Donald J. Trump campaign’s law firm of choice to handle labor negotiations, which prompted a “scathing rebuke” from Globe journalists about ethical concerns presented by the anti-worker firm’s hiring, Henry and Pizzuti Henry now face increasing criticism from beyond just the Guild union that represents newsroom staff.

Leaders from the Teamsters union and the International Association of Machinists have now joined with members in the Boston Newspaper Guild in calling the treatment of workers “dismissive” and “disrespectful” in a joint letter sent to top Globe brass on Thursday, including Henry and Pizzuti Henry.

“By continuing to engage in actions that foment strife within the company, you run the risk of rupturing that trust and of continuing to lose the talented workers who are the foundation of the company’s recent and future success,” said the letter to Boston Globe executives, which was signed by Stephen Sullivan, President of GCC/Teamsters Local 3 Boston; Michael Vartabedian, Assistant Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists, District 15; and Scott Steeves, President of the Boston Newspaper Guild (BNG-TNG/CWA Local 31245).

In a recent internal poll, an overwhelming super-majority of members from the largest of those units, the Boston Newspaper Guild, said they would support a strike authorization vote if one were called by their bargaining committee.

“All employees at The Boston Globe deserve respect. Yet, union members representing Globe staff have experienced management’s hostile anti-worker posture during the course of each union’s recent and protracted contract negotiations,” read the letter. “We are coming together to say enough is enough.”

The communication marks a turning point as it represents the first coordinated action by the three different unions, all citing similar concerns with the approach being taken by Henry and Pizzuti Henry. Henry and Pizzuti Henry also own the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League.

In the spring, members of the Boston Newspaper Guild recorded a key victory when journalists at the Globe-operated health news website STAT joined the Guild. Previously, Pizzuti Henry’s announcement as the next CEO of the publication was clouded by the labor strife that has overtaken the Globe.

Workers at the Globe held out some hope that Pizzuti Henry would move on from the hostile, anti-worker policies being pushed before her tenure, but Globe employees say that the new CEO has failed to reconcile the differences causing an increasing schism at the publication.

Now, with multiple unions coalescing in the form of today’s letter and with talk of a potential strike vote, Pizzuti Henry and her executives face a mounting crisis of confidence at the Globe, even as management touts their increasing digital subscriber rates.

The members of all three unions have each been attempting to negotiate fair contracts at the Globe for more than two years. The Globe has generally failed to disclose its financial ties to Jones Day when running stories related to the controversial law firm and its suits, including those related to the 2020 election.

The executives named in the letter to Globe executives included:

Linda P. Henry, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Globe

John W. Henry, Owner, Boston Globe

Arch Carpenter, Senior Vice President of Print Operations

Claudia Henderson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Boston Globe Media Partners

Dan Krockmalnic, General Counsel, Boston Globe Media Partners

David Carillo, Chief Financial Officer, The Henry Organization

David Dahl, Deputy Managing Editor, Boston Globe

Jason Tuohey, Managing Editor – Digital, Boston Globe

Rich Ford, Director, Total Rewards

Trish Dunn, Partner, Jones Day

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About The Boston Newspaper Guild:

The Boston Newspaper Guild is the employee union for The Boston Globe. We proudly represent about 300 employees including reporters, editors, photographers, page designers, web producers, advertising salespeople and advertising sales support persons, ad-designers, circulation managers, accountants, marketers and information technology specialists, security guards, shippers/receivers, secretaries, and more. Our members produce Pulitzer Prize-winning, nationally-acclaimed work for The Boston Globe.

Newsroom churn hurts journalists. It hurts readers, too.

In any field, turnover hurts. Training new staff takes time and money, and valuable institutional memory is lost when longtime employees leave. In journalism, turnover means losing staff who have built up years of contacts and relationships. The loss of that familiarity reduces the quality of the news produced — which reduces trust among readers.

Too many of management’s proposals will mean an increase in turnover and the loss of valuable institutional knowledge. They also reduce the rights of employees who are just starting by chopping away at their future and their job security.

Management’s proposals undercut staff professionalism and voice. They want to hold all the cards when it comes to working conditions. When such conditions are in place, no one feels valued — and staff leave. Working conditions should be geared towards retention, not turnover.

Readers deserve the steadiness of a paper with minimal turnover.

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Management wants BNG members to be silent.

Speaking truth to power is a core tenet of journalism. Sometimes reporters are telling truths to the public. Sometimes it’s to those in power — elected officials and massive corporations. And sometimes, it’s to Globe bosses.

It can be hard to hear the truth. It can be hard to have a job that involves telling hard truths. That is why many of the provisions in a union contract are so essential, particularly when members are speaking up at work.

Boston Globe management has made numerous proposals that would squash the right to speak up, and increase the risk for doing so.

When you see the pieces come together, it’s clear that management has a big-picture goal beyond eviscerating just cause for termination: to break the union and destroy worker rights.

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Outsourcing: A threat to journalism, a threat to the future of the Globe

The media landscape is ever-changing. Boston Globe staff have kept pace with the times – and have continually adjusted and adapted the approach necessary to meet the needs of The Boston Globe. Reporters have demonstrated the ability to not just keep pace but to be a proactive force within this changing environment; current staff are the reason The Globe has been able to succeed in the digital space, as is often touted by executives.

And yet, despite that success, and despite continual adaptation, Boston Globe management’s proposals would:

Give management the ability to outsource our jobs.
Remove the clause in our current contract that would require any future owner to honor the bargaining agreement.
Strip us of seniority rights during layoffs.

A power grab that gives management the ability to outsource the whole newsroom is not evolving to meet the challenges of the media landscape – it’s the opposite. It’s a short-sighted overreach that is an insult, and denigrates journalists and employees. Since Globe employees have clearly demonstrated their ability to find employment at other leading publications, this kind of scheme would ultimately hurt readers the most.

Outsourcing critical newsroom roles like copy editing, which often requires extensive local knowledge, can have disastrous impacts on the quality of the news. Copy editors play a critical role in ensuring stories ask and answer the tough questions that matter to Globe readers. Copy editors are part of the team that makes the difference between fake news and real news.

Boston Globe management’s current proposals would also strip successor language. No one knows what the future holds, but staff need to be sure hard-won protections endure if and when The Boston Globe is bought or sold. As slash and burn funds like Alden Global Capital take over papers across the country, making short-term profits by cutting newsrooms to the bone, successor language is a key protection we must stand behind to keep quality local journalism alive and sustainable.

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