Rockford journalists request representation

Rockford journalists request representation

The vast majority of newsroom employees in the Rockford Register Star newsroom signed authorization cards last week seeking representation from the United Media Guild. The UMG asked Register Star to recognize our union and begin collective bargaining. We expect GateHouse...

AFSCME supports SJ-R negotiations with GateHouse

Here is an update on the State Journal Register's public campaign in Springfield, Ill., from our unit's blog: More than 80 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees cheered and applauded Thursday, April 25, when told...

Illinois labor leaders support SJ-R contract quest

Here is the report from our Springfield unit on how organized labor is supporting State Journal-Register journalists in their fight for a fair first contract with GateHouse Media: Members of Springfield’s labor community gave a warm welcome this week to...

Fight for great journalism continues in Springfield

Reporters, editors and photographers at the State Journal-Register in Springfield continued to fight for their craft during collective bargaining this week. Contract negotiations between the SJ-R unit of the United Media Guild and GateHouse covered a variety of topics Tuesday...

Negotiations are underway in Springfield

The United Media Guild has started negotiations with GateHouse for our first collective bargaining agreement at the State Journal-Register in Springfield. Our unit chair there, Dean Olsen, posted a detailed account of the first two sessions in the SJR blog....

Protecting the 40-hour work week

Media companies are demanding newsroom employees to do more with less. But as a veteran editor noted before resigning last year, “You can’t do more with less. You can only do less with less.” This is the challenge our members...

New Springfield unit focuses on unpaid overtime

Our new Springfield State Journal-Register is preparing to elect officers, select its negotiating committee and set its objectives for its first collective bargaining agreement. One issue has moved toward the top of the list: Definition of the work week and...