Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hartford Courant Reporters Ratify First Union Contract

[Omaha Steve]

https://aflcio.org/2024/6/18/service-solidarity-spotlight-hartford-courant-reporters-ratify-first-union-contract

Kenneth Quinnell June 18, 2024

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Reporters from the country’s oldest continuously published newspaper, the Hartford Courant, ratified their first union contract. The Hartford Courant Guild and seven other Tribune publications owned by hedge fund Alden Global Capital ratified a five-year contract that includes a 3% raise this month, another 3% raise next year, protections for existing 401(k) matches, job security initiatives, just-cause provisions to prevent arbitrary discipline and termination, a grievance and arbitration process involving a third-party for disputes, social media and credit line rights. In addition to the Hartford Courant, the Orlando Sentinel, Tidewater Review, The [Allentown] Morning Call in Pennsylvania, Chicago Tribune, Design and Production Studios and Tribune Content Agency are covered by the contract.

“When we created The Hartford Courant Guild over five years ago, it was in part to help ensure that the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States continues to function,” said Hartford Courant reporter Christopher Keating, co-chair of the guild. “This contract took five long years to complete and was accomplished only through the diligent work of our bargaining leaders, particularly former Courant reporter Daniela Altimari and sports reporter Lori Riley. They deserve credit for the gains that we made.”