By: Joe Strupp The Lexington Newspaper Guild, which represents 86 staffers at the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, has merged with the local Communications Workers of America unit, a move Guild president Brandon Ortiz says will strengthen the union's resources.
"In these uncertain times, when Big Media is lining the pockets of corporate executives while pushing veteran journalists out the door, it's more important than ever to form alliances with workers who are facing the same struggle in their industries," Ortiz said in a statement. "Their struggle is our struggle."
A Guild release stated that the merger followed an agreement signed Tuesday by leaders of both local units that was recently ratified by the members of each group.
That agreement merges the guild unit with CWA Local 3372, which represents 900 workers at Verizon, Windstream, the Fayette County Detention Center, AT&T and PrintWorks. But it also keeps its ties to the national Newspaper Guild.
Although the national offices of the Guild and the CWA have been merged for several years, the local offices are not all necessarily connected.
"The alliance will significantly enhance bargaining power for Herald-Leader newsroom workers by providing them with more resources in their fight for better job security, fairness and quality journalism for Central and Eastern Kentucky," Ortiz said, adding that the guild local currently has a five-year contract with the Herald-Leader that ends in 2011.
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