Journalists with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper continued their strike Tuesday, claiming they’ve been pushed to the brink and that mum or dad firm McClatchy has refused to cut price in good religion over a brand new contract.
Union staff with the Fort Worth NewsGuild introduced the strike Monday. The union mentioned McClatchy, owned by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management, then revoked staff’ well being care advantages, mentioned it will submit their jobs on-line and inspired different staff to cross the picket line.
The union is looking for a minimal wage of $57,500 for staff dwelling in Fort Worth. The NewsGuild alleges McClatchy countered with $45,000.
“Low wages, hostile working conditions and a hemorrhaging industry have pushed journalists to the brink, including senior reporters with deep knowledge and connections in the community,” the union (*5*).
In a story published Monday, Star-Telegram President and Editor Steve Coffman mentioned the paper would proceed “covering the news that matters to Tarrant County and North Texas.”
“We look forward to reaching an agreement with our valued employees,” Coffman mentioned.
Kaley Johnson, Fort Worth News Guild Vice President, mentioned the consequences of the strike are already being felt on the Star-Telegram and the town shouldn’t be being extensively lined accurately.
Johnson is a social and legal justice reporter on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and till Monday has lined the dying of Atatiana Jefferson and the upcoming trial of Aaron Dean. She mentioned the strike shouldn’t be excellent however obligatory with a purpose to deal with the wage inequities reporters are dealing with.
“None of us wanted to and none of us want to strike,” Johnson mentioned. “We all do this job because we love it. We want to serve the community we are in through our various beats and different positions.”
Additionally, the Star-Telegram moved out of its historic newsroom workplace and now operates out of a shared workspace. Johnson mentioned that placement is an instance of McClatchy’s incapacity to grasp native news. Johnson mentioned McClatchy’s incapacity to fulfill the union pretty is irritating.
“We want to be doing our jobs right now and McClatchy is the sole reason we are not,” Johnson mentioned.
21 staff are on strike on the time of publication and greater than 90% of its members voted to approve a strike, which Johnson mentioned is empowering on the identical time.
The union is involved with McClatchy and keen to barter at any time, Johnson mentioned.
“They have stalled long enough,” Johnson mentioned. “We are ready to meet them now.”
A GoFundMe has been set as much as assist fund staff’ salaries and well being protection in the course of the strike.
McClatchy couldn’t instantly be reached for remark presently.
The Star-Telegram strike comes because the newspaper business continues to shrink after 20 years of job losses and newspaper closures. Union journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have been on strike for a number of weeks within the first newspaper strike within the United States in a long time.
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