Movies

Southern California News Group journalists vote to authorize strike

BBG News

As a veteran moviegoer who has spent countless hours immersed in tales of striking workers fighting for fair treatment and better wages, I find it both heartening and disheartening to see this scenario unfolding in real life. On one hand, I admire the courage and resilience of the journalists employed by Southern California News Group (SCNG), who have taken a stand against what they perceive as unfair labor practices and stalled contract negotiations. Their determination to secure a livable wage is a testament to their dedication to truth, justice, and the American way – or at least, the California way.

Employees working for Southern California News Group, which encompasses publications like the Orange County Register and L.A. Daily News, have largely decided to give the go-ahead for a potential strike, as announced by their union on Monday.

In a vote that saw overwhelming support, the SCNG union’s members voted to give their leaders the power to initiate an open-ended strike by a margin of 94%. Out of the 125 journalists who are part of the union across 11 different newsrooms, more than 90% took part in the vote for the strike authorization. This includes reporters, photographers, digital and social media staff, as well as production personnel. According to the union, these figures were reported.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m proud to be part of the Media Guild of the West – an alliance that extends beyond me, encompassing fellow film enthusiasts and journalists at esteemed outlets like the Los Angeles Times in Southern California.

The union claims that SCNG, a branch belonging to MediaNews Group (owned by Alden Global Capital), has been involved in unjust labor dealings. Specifically, they’re said to be delaying contract negotiations, failing to increase wages for their employees over the past decade, and paying them less than fair compensation. This is according to allegations made by the union, which also includes a number of SCNG reporters among its ranks.

On Monday, neither the representatives from SCNG nor MediaNews Group provided an immediate response when asked for a comment.

Sean Emery, a SCNG reporter and guild unit leader, stated that this vote should act as a warning for management who, for over 2½ years, have not provided fair wages and benefits during negotiations.

Our members are becoming increasingly frustrated, as they’ve been living with meager earnings for a prolonged period. They find it difficult to make ends meet due to wages that haven’t risen in years.

Apart from the Register and Daily News, publications under the Southern California News Group (SCNG) also encompass Riverside’s Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun, Torrance’s Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach’s Press-Telegram, Pasadena Star-News, Redlands Daily Facts, Whittier Daily News, and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

2021 saw the company’s journalists unite and form a union under the Western Media Guild. Since then, they have been in negotiations for a fresh contract which has now lasted two years. If the union decides to stage a strike, it would be the first instance of an open-ended work halt at an Alden Global Capital newsroom, as per the union’s statement.

In December, employees at SCNG participated in a single-day strike as a demonstration against the company’s perceived delaying strategies and unjust labor policies.

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2024-09-24 04:31

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