News Releases

EFE Journalists Vote YES for News Media Guild

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:41:24 -0700

town:

Miami

date:

2005-09-30 00:00

text:

MIAMI, Sept. 30 – By a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent, professional journalists at the EFE News Service voted for representation by the News Media Guild in an election conducted Thursday by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. The employer promised in advance of the vote to respect the wishes of the majority and to begin bargaining for an initial contract. EFE has U.S. offices in Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C. EFE, based in Madrid, is the world’s largest Spanish-language news agency, transmitting text, audio, video, photos, and multimedia content to the Spanish-speaking world. The agency also operates an English language service. The election covered an expanding number of U.S. employees who, unlike their colleagues, were not protected by a union contract negotiated in Spain. EFE employs about 40 of these full-time journalists and administrative employees in its U.S. offices. “We are ecstatic that EFE workers have joined their Guild colleagues, and they should congratulate themselves for taking a courageous step in support of workplace democracy,” said Tony Winton, NMG president. “Now that the vote is over, we look forward to a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect with EFE as we bargain a fair contract,” said Benito Garcia, a member of the Guild’s organizing committee and an editor in Miami. The vote, conducted in three cities on Thursday, was counted on Friday. The tally was 23 in favor of NMG representation and 14 opposed. The Guild obtained critical support from unionized journalists in Spain (Comisiones Obreras) and the International Federation of Journalists, who both interceded with Madrid EFE executives to press for a fair and free vote. “This is an important step for the News Media Guild,” Winton said. “The demographics are clear: the future of U.S. journalism is one that is practiced in both English and Spanish. Our central goal of quality journalism is one that resonates in all languages,” he added. The EFE organizing drive represents the first Florida-based unit for The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America, NMG’s parent union. The vote by U.S workers follows a similar victory by Puerto Rican EFE employees in December. Workers on the island have already started bargaining for an initial contract. The News Media Guild, established in 1958, also represents about 1,700 reporters, photographers, broadcast staff, and technicians at the Associated Press and United Press International in all 50 states.

contact:

Tony Winton, 212-869-9290

Guild Organizes Journalists at Spanish News Agency, EFE

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:53:08 -0700

town:

Miami

date:

2005-08-18 00:00

text:

MIAMI, Aug. 18 – U.S. workers at the Spanish news agency EFE joined the News Media Guild this week, saying they’re standing together to achieve a fair contract that will enhance quality journalism in the rapidly growing Spanish media sector. EFE, based in Madrid, is the world’s leading Spanish-language news agency, providing text, photos, and multimedia content to clients around the world. The North American operation is based in Miami, with journalists in New York, Washington, and other cities. The News Media Guild filed a request for voluntary recognition for U.S. employees with the employer this week. EFE workers in the U.S. are joining their colleagues in Puerto Rico, who organized with a Guild affiliate, UPAGRA, in December. Bargaining for an initial contract there is under way. The effort has the full backing of the Comisiones Obreras, a key union representing EFE employees in Spain, as well as the International Federation of Journalists. “This effort brings workers together so they can uphold, with greater strength, their present and future interests,” the CCOO said in a statement. EFE managers have told employees they respect the role of the unions in growing the company’s business. “EFE workers know the value of the work they do and how important the growing American Hispanic market is,” said NMG President Tony Winton. “They also know that fair contracts attract and retain the best workers, something that results in quality journalism in any language,” he said. “We chose the News Media Guild because of its commitment to workplace democracy and high professional standards,” said Benito Garcia, a news editor in Miami and a member of the organizing committee. Jorge Bañales, an editor in Washington, added: “EFE is a decent employer that respects the union rights of its workers in Spain. We call on the company to do likewise here and begin bargaining a fair contract for its U.S. based staff.” The organizing effort represents the first Florida-based unit for the Guild. TNG-CWA President Linda Foley said it was more important than ever for newspaper workers to have a union voice and representation. “TNG-CWA works not only to improve working conditions but to maintain quality journalism, professionalism and diversity of opinion. We’re very happy to welcome workers at EFE as our newest members.” The News Media Guild, formerly the Wire Service Guild, represents employees at the Associated Press and United Press International. The union is a local of The Newspaper Guild-Communications of America, AFL-CIO. Other TNG and CWA locals represent workers in newsrooms at the New York Times, the Washington Post, ABC, NBC, the Wall Street Journal, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

contact:

Tony Winton, 212-869-9290

Byline Quotas Rescinded

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:56:49 -0700

town:

New York

date:

2005-06-30 00:00

text:

In another major victory for the News Media Guild, The Associated Press has agreed to rescind byline quotas in Ohio to settle a charge, filed by the union, that the company violated federal labor law by establishing the quotas mid-contract. The Guild's Executive Committee voted June 28th to accept the settlement, in which AP agrees to rescind numeric byline and enterprise standards as well as written warnings to two staffers. "I'm delighted to hear that the company has given in on the byline quota issue," said Cincinnati sportswriter Joe Kay, whom other Ohio staffers said led the fight against the quotas. "The union stood fast against them from the day they were imposed. This protects the jobs of every AP staffer who would be jeopardized if managers were allowed to disregard the contract." The quotas were imposed Feb. 26 and added to the Ohio staff handbook two days later. But on June 2, in a visit to the Seattle bureau, AP President Tom Curley denied that quotas existed in Ohio. Shortly after the quotas were imposed, NMG filed an unfair labor practice charge, accusing the AP of violating federal labor law by unilaterally imposing the quotas mid-term during the contract. While the Guild was willing to discuss the issue with AP, it said job security issues were fully discussed during the last negotiations so bargaining wasn’t required. The National Labor Relations Board took affidavits from those involved. “There are a lot of people to thank for this victory, including our administrator, Guild legal counsel, The Newspaper Guild, and NMG’s Professional Activities Committee,” said NMG President Tony Winton. “But the largest share of the credit goes to the courageous staffers in Ohio and their colleagues around the nation who spoke out and mobilized against this threat to quality journalism and our job security,” Winton said. The quotas came about after Guild-covered staffers in Ohio met with their managers about ways to find more time for enterprise. As a result, several night shifts were eliminated, including weekends, a decision that was applauded by staff. That soured quickly when AP imposed its byline quota by disciplining two staffers. The settlement marks one of several Guild victories in the past two years, including the reinstatement of Mark Foley as a Florida photographer and Melissa Murphy to her job in AP Digital. Murphy also received full back pay, an exceptional win for the Guild. The National Labor Relations Act requires employers to provide unions with adequate notice of any intended rules it wants to set that affect terms and conditions of employment. The union then has the right to demand good faith bargaining over the subject. Negotiating mid-term during a contract is not required where contract terms exist.

contact:

Tony Winton, 212-869-9290

Fired AP Union Leader Wins in Tokyo Court

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:04:47 -0700

town:

Tokyo

date:

2005-04-21 00:00

text:

TOKYO, April 21 – A Japanese court ordered Associated Press to pay a fired AP union leader $4,500 a month for violating that nation’s labor law, according to the Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers Unions (Shimbun Roren). Tsukada Newser BACK PAY: Union attorney Kanae Doi, left, and fired AP union leader Atsushi Tsukada, right, at news conference in Tokyo, April 22, 2004. Shimbun Roren photo The ruling by Tokyo District Court Judge Kenichiro Masunaga involves photographer Atsushi Tsukada, who was terminated in October, 2002 just as employees were planning the first strike in ten years against AP in Japan. The back pay award is retroactive to December, 2002. The judge rejected AP’s arguments that Tsukada’s position was “redundant” as a result of the creation of a new regional photo center in Bangkok, Thailand. Union attorney Kanae Doi said the court examined claims that the AP needed to cut costs, but found AP failed to prove a pressing economic reason for the dismissal. The AP also failed to show any objective and justifiable reason in selecting Tsukada for dismissal, Doi said in a statement. Members of the News Media Guild and TNG-CWA Local 1314 rallied to Tsukuda’s defense, leafleting AP’s corporate headquarters in New York last year. Tsukada had addressed delegates to the Guild’s Representative Assembly meeting. Despite the victory, it’s not clear whether AP will appeal the ruling or reinstate Tsukada, whose work has graced the pages of AP’s in-house magazine, AP World. The News Media Guild and its parent union, The Newspaper Guild-CWA, are launching a worldwide petition drive urging the company to respect workers’ rights and reinstate Tsukada.

contact:

Tony Winton, 212-869-9290

Guild Merger Vote set March 11th

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:54:51 -0700

town:

New York

date:

2005-02-14 00:00

text:

NEW YORK – Leaders of the News Media Guild and Technicians Local 1314 voted this week to endorse a merger, a move that would create a unified labor group representing all unionized employees at The Associated Press for the first time in 60 years. Members of both locals, voting separately, must approve the merger document before it becomes effective. Ballots will be mailed March 11th to all NMG members in good standing. The Guild’s Representative Assembly and Executive Committee approved the merger document unanimously. The pact also has the full backing and support of The Newspaper Guild and the Communications Workers of America. “Both locals have a proud history, but in today’s world of news convergence, unity is the best way to improve contracts and promote quality journalism,” said Tony Winton, NMG president. “This merger preserves the traditions of both locals, while greatly strengthening the resources of both groups,” he said. “Our two locals have been cooperating now for several years, but this merger solidifies that bond and our determination to stand together,” said Karl Jendretzky, Local 1314 president. Technicians joined CWA in 1987 and affiliated with The Newspaper Guild two years ago. Highlights of Merger The merger document spells out that the incoming technicians’ unit would be treated as a “new division” within the News Media Guild. Under terms of the merger document, the union’s “legislature,” the Representative Assembly, would be expanded by three seats for new technician delegates. The Guild’s Executive Committee would grow by one seat to accommodate a Technician representative. The merger leaves separate bargaining units intact, however. While one unified local will bargain for both groups, editorial and technical employees would still vote on separate contracts. Under terms of the document, Technicians would elect their own national committee, a practice that echoes NMG history when separate national committees existed at AP and United Press International. Financial Efficiency By combining many routine functions, the merger promises greater efficiency. From office expenses to legal costs, the consolidation of functions both locals were paying for separately will wind up increasing resources for members of both groups. In addition, the consolidation is likely to mean greater financial support from The Newspaper Guild and the CWA, the locals’ parent organizations.

contact:

Tony Winton, 212-869-9290