More than 200 employees of the Chicago Tribune and 6 other newsrooms begin a 24-hour strike

CHICAGO (AP) — More than 200 reporters, photographers and other employees from the Chicago Tribune and six other newsrooms across the country walked out Thursday to protest years-long “slow-moving” contract negotiations and demand fair wages. Started a 24-hour strike.

The strike, which includes 76 members of the Chicago Tribune reporting staff, photographers and some editors, began at 5 a.m., said Caroline Kubzansky, a member of the Chicago Tribune Guild and a general assignment reporter at the newspaper.

this is the latest recent strike In the American news industry. The striking workers are employees of Alden Global Capital New York The hedge fund that is buying newspapers across the country is facing criticism for budget cuts and job cuts.

NewsGuild-CWA, which represents workers, said workers participating in the 24-hour strike are demanding fair wages and that management will not eliminate their 401(k) match benefits. It said workers “have been fighting for a contract through their unions for five years.”

NewsGuild-CWA said Wednesday, “Yesterday’s walkout is the largest coordinated action taken by the company’s journalists against Alden Global Capital since the hedge fund bought Tribune Publishing in 2021, in a deal worth $278 million.” Was drowned in debt.” A news release.

The union said the cuts imposed by Alden Global Capital “have devastated the newsroom” and include reducing the Chicago Tribune’s staff from 111 to 76 people through June 2021. Those cutbacks “have harmed the ability of journalists to provide quality public information and hold power to account.” NewsGuild-CWA said.

An email message seeking comment on the strike was sent to Chicago Tribune executive editor Mitch Pugh, who responded that all inquiries should be directed to Goldin Solutions. A message seeking comment was sent Thursday morning to Goldin Solutions by The Associated Press.

In addition to the Chicago Tribune and four sister newspapers in the Chicago suburbs, some of the other striking employees include employees of the Orlando Sentinel; The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania; VirginiaPress n; Daily Pilot; Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review, According To The NewsGuild-CWA.

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