ICYMI: Spectrum News 1: Courier Journal refuses to recognize union
Click here to sign a petition in support of the union at the Courier-Journal.
By CHRIS HUGHES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Courier Journal management is refusing to recognize the Courier Journal Guild after journalists announced last week that they had the votes to unionize.
What You Need To Know
- The Courier Journal management responded to a request for voluntary recognition of the Courier Journal Guild
- There are two ways to unionize: one is for the company to voluntarily recognize the union and the other is for employees to hold a vote to unionize
- Journalists have cited a number of reasons to unionize, including layoffs, buyouts and reporters leaving for jobs that offer higher pay
- Organizers directed their followers to a petition directed at the paper's management to voluntarily recognize the union
In a statement shared on Twitter by the Guild, Executive Editor of the Courier Journal and Midwest Regional Editor of USA Today Mary Irby-Jones stated, “The Courier-Journal respectfully rejects the Guild’s request for voluntary recognition and/or meeting with Gannett management concerning election matters." The statement was in response to a request from the NewsGuild union on Aug. 30 to voluntarily recognize the union as the “collective bargaining representative of a majority of non-supervisory newsroom employees."