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* Big news…
Tronc voluntarily recognizes Chicago Tribune union in historic move. #MightierTogether pic.twitter.com/d3D2U9ocGq
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) May 7, 2018
* More from WMAQ…
According to Tribune Editor Bruce Dold, supervisors and managers, along with non-newsroom employees, will be excluded from the new negotiating units.
“As we move ahead, we need to be united as one organization with an important purpose – to help the company transform and thrive as a business, and to serve our readers world-class journalism,” he said.
In late April, Tribune management opted not to recognize the union, which was approved by reporters by a massive margin. They did continue to review the situation however, and ultimately decided to recognize the union’s right to negotiate on behalf of its members.
“People need to realize that what we do is important,” reporter Mary Wisniewski said after the initial decision in April. “We’re doing good, important professional work, and we need real news and real investigations to support our Democracy.”
* Tribune…
The union will not represent supervisors, managers and other non-newsroom employees, but there is some disagreement over whether certain editors and editorial board members should be included.
“We will engage in further conversations concerning whether certain job classifications will be included in the bargaining unit,” Dold said in his email.
* A text from a bemused Democrat…
Hahahaha. Bruce Dold and the Trib management always telling elected officials to stand up to unions. Did it take them one week or two to cave? Can’t wait for the edit board fairshare payments.
The staff made its demand on April 24th. The Tribune agreed to terms on May 6th.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:29 am
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==Hahahaha. Bruce Dold and the Trib management always telling elected officials to stand up to unions. Did it take them one week or two to cave? Can’t wait for the edit board fairshare payments.==
This is weird. Is it more important to be consistent than it is to do what this person presumably thinks is the right thing? Like, if the Trib hadn’t recognized the union, this person would be happier?
Comment by Chris Widger Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:36 am
–Bruce Dold and the Trib management always telling elected officials to stand up to unions. Did it take them one week or two to cave?–
Very funny. But Dold is just a tronc overseer. He doesn’t make big calls like this.
Who’s actually running tronc these days, since Ferro slithered away with his millions?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:38 am
==but there is some disagreement over whether certain editors and editorial board members should be included.==
Is that because the editorial board members are refusing to join the union on principle? /s
Comment by Whatever Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:39 am
I should also add: Wait until the newly-unionized editorial board members try to cash in on the Speaker’s love for unions.
Comment by Whatever Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:41 am
@Chris, I don’t think the individual is unhappy with the union being recognized, more like delighting in the irony.
And Rich, I’m really not a grammar nazi or anything, at least I don’t think so, but “bemused” means confused or puzzled, which I don’t think makes sense here. Amused?
Comment by Perrid Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:43 am
“This is weird. Is it more important to be consistent than it is to do what this person presumably thinks is the right thing? Like, if the Trib hadn’t recognized the union, this person would be happier?”
It’s not weird. He or she is laughing at Tronc tangibly demonstrating flaws in the rhetoric they have been throwing out for decades. It’s an appreciation of irony. That’s it. Nothing weird about it.
Comment by Montrose Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:44 am
I guess praying for a hurricane in time to stop this recognition wasn’t possible?
Times are a-changing.
Raunerism and those of his ilk who see people making less is most important are now getting blowback… by people organizing… wanting collective bargaining… and holding those in management to doing things in good faith…
Good on the Trib and the Guild.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:45 am
===”bemused” means confused or puzzled, which I don’t think makes sense here===
It’s irony.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:45 am
After the recent round of layoffs, the most staff-heavy department at the Trib is Bruce Dold’s beloved op-ed section. The real irony will kick in when union-bashing opinion writers seek collective bargaining protection from the next wave of “right-sizing.”
Comment by Ink Stained Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:46 am
Ah OK, sorry. Flew over my head lol.
Comment by Perrid Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:49 am
Historic and beautiful. Welcome to unionization, which is one of the key ways countries and economies are first-world.
The richest corporations got a massive tax cut. From what I’ve been reading—and according to Marco Rubio—the tax cuts are not trickling down to workers. Bonuses are one-time events and are not pay raises, better health insurance, defined pensions instead of 401(k)’s/no retirement accounts, etc. Unions are very much needed now, to compel redistribution of wealth to proportions that are healthier for countries.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:51 am
“When the unions inspiration through the workers blood shall run,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun”
Solidarity sisters and brothers
What a great day
Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:54 am
Looking forward to the editorial opinion on this.
Comment by walker Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:08 am
Is there speculation that this unionizing will an effect on state government? I don’t see what that effect could be.
Comment by My New Handle Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:15 am
…will have an effect… Sorry
Comment by My New Handle Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:16 am
Anybody checked to see if Robert R. McCormack has rolled over in his grave?
Comment by Huh? Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:17 am
I’ll now set the over/under on when the Tribune files for bankruptcy at 27.5 months.
Comment by Occam Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:18 am
OW @ 10:45 a.m. — “I guess praying for a hurricane in time to stop this recognition wasn’t possible?”
You win the Internet today, sir.
Comment by The End Is Near Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:20 am
There is world of difference between recognizing a union and standing up to them. Good for the Tribune for recognizing the new union, which is needed for fair negotiations. Now let them have negotiations. The difference between the new union and the state of Illinois is that the new union isn’t trying to control both sides of the negotiating table - that might be the other paper in-town.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:21 am
“Anybody checked to see if Robert R. McCormack has rolled over in his grave?”
They hooked him up to the press, his vigorous grave-rolling is providing 100% of the power to run the thing.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:40 am
Living in the gilded age
Comment by Rabid Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:49 am
“Is there speculation that this unionizing will an effect on state government?”
Hopefully a little more empathy for employees who have terrible bosses, which is the case for state employees right now, and gladness that workers can band together to protect themselves from lousy bosses like Union Bustin’ Bruce and Tronc.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:56 am
Unionizing print newspaper staff will hasten print’s decline, but that might not necessarily be so bad, so long as someone figures out how to make digitial journalism profitable. Anyone got any ideas?
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:07 pm
===Unionizing print newspaper staff will hasten print’s decline===
How? In tronc’s case, the top dudes didn’t just skim profits, they hoarded them.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:15 pm
Recognizing the union and union negotiations are 2 different things. The union (and its members) better be ready for a long, hard slog. From this point forward, there are no more gimmes - you’re going to have to negotiate for everything and it won’t be easy.
Comment by Anon Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:16 pm
Are editors usually included in newsroom unions? Editors responsible for daily content and layout seem closer to management than staff.
Comment by anon Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:33 pm
Print ad revenue has been in a straight-up free fall for about a decade. To the extent that this revenue pays for labor (a big ol’ extent), raising the cost of labor by unionizing isn’t going to help matters any. Even if the union successfully pries some of the profits from Tronc, you’ve still a deck-chairs-on-the-Titanic situation.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:54 pm
“From this point forward, there are no more gimmes”
Please identify the last time that the Tribune journalists got a “gimme” from ⁞⁞⁞tronc.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:14 pm
Not sure about Tronc but the private employers I’ve worked for typically gave everyone the same annual raise (2-4%) and you’d negotiate for anything beyond that. I’m guessing Anon is correct that if that was the case at Tronc, that “gimme” went out the door with unionizing.
Comment by Robert the 1st Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:21 pm
=== “From this point forward, there are no more gimmes - you’re going to have to negotiate for everything and it won’t be easy” ===
If they can afford to pay Ferro $5 million a year as a “consultant”, they can afford to pay actual journalists.
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:33 pm
“Please identify the last time that the Tribune journalists got a “gimme” from ⁞⁞⁞tronc.”
tronc was very generous with pink slips.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:37 pm
whatever. I’m more concerned that newspapers, print or electronic, thrive. buy a paper, subscribe and read on line. pick up a paper when you visit another town. it is key to a free society that the news continues to flow. fact finding matters.
Comment by Amalia Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:42 pm
“Now all the Tribune needs to find are some actual journalists.”
I’ve read dumber comments, but this one is right up there.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:00 pm
To paraphrase James Madison…
If management/owners were angels no union would be necessary.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:25 pm
Employers get the unions they deserve.
Comment by kitty Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:03 pm
==Good on the Trib and the Guild.==
Yep. This case will be closely watched, as both sides hope it will confirm what they already believe about unions (though the dynamics of private-sector unions and public-sector unions are quite different).
Union or no, the Trib is a business that is expected to make a profit. The contract terms will depend on economic reality. It’s been said here before: Sometimes a fair contract means less money. On the other hand, it might mean more money.
==“People need to realize that what we do is important,” reporter Mary Wisniewski said after the initial decision in April.==
Specifically, paying customers need to realize that and support it, which is a primary challenge for the Trib and other news outlets.
Comment by Anon Monday, May 7, 18 @ 6:32 pm
Big difference between standing up to government unions who “negotiate” with their political benefactors and “bashing all unions for a century”
Isn’t that why they call labor contracts bargaining?
Do you bargain by battling or caving?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 7:10 pm