On June 13, newsroom workers at MediaNews properties in the Bay Area won a historic victory - they voted in the largest new journalists' unit in the U.S. in 20 years!

BUT NOW THEY NEED YOUR HELP: Just two days after the new Newspaper Guild unit was officially certified, MediaNews management retaliated. In a layoff of 29 employees, 20 were visible supporters of the Guild, including newly-elected Unit Chair, Sara Steffens. No leaders of the anti-union effort were laid off.

Sign our petition to urge MediaNews to treat their workers fairly and come to the table immediately to negotiate a contract.

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Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I support the newsroom employees at the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and the other newspapers and Web sites of the Bay Area News Group-East Bay. They voted on June 13 in a federally-supervised secret ballot election to form their own unit of The Newspaper Guild. That decision should be respected.

These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.

We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted in the recent layoffs on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.

We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.

It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
July 23, 2008