U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown will join The Dayton Newspaper Guild for a rally Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Dayton Daily News Media Center, 1611 S. Main St.
Brown will urge the Dayton Daily News to bargain fairly with the Guild to finally resolve its contract talks after 21 years of stonewalling. He will also speak in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, an effort he is supporting in Congress that would help local unions to get fair play from companies like the Dayton Daily News.
Brown will be one of several local political leaders at the rally, including Jane Mitakides, Mike Turner’s opponent in the 3rd congressional district, and Victoria Wulsin, who is running against Jean Schmidt in the 2nd congressional district.
The Guild last week announced the launch of an extensive public awareness campaign over the coming months. The first phase of the campaign, which includes billboard, radio and print advertising, was funded in part by more than $50,000 in contributions from The Newspaper Guild, Communication Workers of America and Guild locals from across the country.
The Dayton Daily News declared impasse and walked out of contract talks after 11 months of negotiations on Dec. 6. The Guild continues to press an unfair labor practice charge against the Dayton Daily News for unilaterally declaring impasse.
The Dayton Daily News has been stonewalling the Guild for 21 years since it last ratified a contract. Minimum base pay has not increased for 14 years. Unresolved issues are: the company’s desire to freeze wages in a time of strong profits, deny part-time workers affordable health care and rig arbitration in its favor, among others.
The Guild represents 147 reporters, copy editors, photographers, online workers, artists and editorial assistants. The Newspaper Guild is a sector of Communication Workers of America.
