Tribune staffers call for 24-hour strike Thursday
Call for fair wages, equal pay ignored by hedge fund
The Chicago Tribune Guild, the union who oversees the journalists working at the Alden-owned newspaper, is going on a 24-hour strike beginning Thursday at 5 a.m.
This is our open letter to Alden Global Capital explaining why we are going on strike tomorrow @chicagotribune pic.twitter.com/HDkutMeWlc
— Gregory Royal Pratt (@royalpratt) January 31, 2024
Most Alden newspaper unions are planning similar actions – including the Orlando Sentinel and the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call, both owned under Alden’s Tribune Publishing banner. This follows a similar 24-hour work stoppage at Alden’s New York Daily News and two weeks ago at the Los Angeles Times after the paper announced it was laying off a third of its staff.
Since Alden acquired Tribune Publishing in 2021, the hedge fund cut staff and resources – something the union was predicting would happen when Alden was in talks to acquire the company. The move was praised by right-wing pundits, never mind the lack of coverage in some parts of the metro area let the door open for Dan Proft and his phony right-wing propaganda newspapers to fill the void during the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Alden’s been known for gutting newspapers across the country to squeeze as much revenue out as possible.
A message on the Chicago Tribune Guild’s website stated the following: “Tribune Publishing union journalists have been fighting for a fair contract for nearly five years. In that time frame, the journalists have covered essential news, bringing to light government corruption, explaining complicated policy reforms, relaying important updates about weather, schools and the COVID-19 pandemic and providing insightful commentary on movies, food, and culture.”
The Guild is asking readers not to visit the site on Thursday and not to read or share articles.
Here’s how you can show your solidarity:
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) January 31, 2024
DO NOT click on stories at https://t.co/m1zKvUd4Bt
DO NOT engage with Trib social media accounts
DO NOT open and engage with Chicago Tribune emails and news alerts Thursday.
Respect our picket line by not crossing the “click it” line! pic.twitter.com/Ux7rElLuCR
This comes as numerous publications have laid off journalists over the last several weeks, including the aforementioned L.A. Times, Pitchfork, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, and others as investors are putting pressure on companies to increase profits. The layoffs come at an inopportune time with a major Presidential election coming up and numerous pressing issues our city – and country are facing.