OHG statement to McClatchy: Stop delaying at the bargaining table
After one year of bargaining our first contract, we the journalists of One Herald Guild demand that McClatchy negotiate in good faith to address our proposals for wages, benefits and policies to strengthen our newsroom.
Respond to our proposals at the bargaining table. Stop making proposals to weaken the newsroom. Pick up the pace of negotiations. We organized because we are stronger together.
When we began bargaining our first contract with McClatchy on Feb. 22, 2020, we were hopeful that this process would mark a new era of collaboration between management and staff. We delivered the company’s bargaining team valentines describing what is most important to us: a strong, sustainable newsroom for the future.
Since then, One Herald Guild has proposed thoughtful contract language that would:
*Ensure equal pay between el Nuevo Herald and Miami Herald staff
*Allow journalists to start families
*Protect the newsroom from arbitrary downsizing
*Provide fair severance for journalists who have dedicated decades to the Herald
In return, McClatchy has responded with silence, issued public announcements about company policy changes while ignoring our comprehensive proposals at the table, or worse: Made disrespectful proposals that would allow the company to layoff journalists at will, outsource Herald journalism and fire employees for “leafleting” on social media.
But the big items remain open, including wages, parental leave and an article that will define who is covered by our unit and how much of our work the company can assign to others outside of the unit. To be sure, OHG continues to review the company’s counter offers on vacation, grievance procedures and severance.
Our vision for the Herald is clear. We want the strong, sustainable newsroom that Miami deserves, where journalists of different races and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to stay and develop their careers. After a year of silence and disrespect, we are calling on McClatchy to work with us. Together we have a unique opportunity to change the Herald for the better. Enough stalling. Let’s get to work.