Unionized workers at the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester are going back to work after nearly three weeks walking the picket line. But it’s not because they have reached a settlement with the newspaper’s owner, Gannett.
Vice Chairman of the Newspaper Guild of Rochester, Justin Murphy, said late Wednesday afternoon that following a bargaining session earlier in the day on a potential new contract, Guild members saw changes in contract language that they had not agreed to.
Murphy said that the two dozen striking journalists have lost faith in Gannett’s ability to bargain in good faith, and they don’t know when the company’s negotiators will be back at the bargaining table. Because of that, the staffers “have decided to end our strike and return to work in the morning, Thursday.”
Murphy added that it is not the outcome they had hoped for, but the Guild members “determined that’s what’s best for us and for the community."
He also said the union will be filing a series of complaints with the National Labor Relations board about the way that Gannett has conducted itself in the contract talks.
The union members have been without a new contract since 2019. They have been striking over issues that include wages, job security including the use of artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, Gannett released this statement:
"We are pleased our Democrat and Chronicle colleagues are back to work focused on serving the Rochester community," said Democrat & Chronicle Spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton. "When Guild leaders come to the table focused on serious negotiation rather than creating a circus of false narratives; our local management is always prepared to negotiate in good faith. You can see that in cities across the country where we have reached agreements. To be clear, no matter how long it takes, we will always put our readers first to ensure we deliver essential journalism and content."
