How to support us:
Ask the Times Union & Hearst to give the Albany Newspaper Guild a fair contract now
Publisher George Hearst: ghearst@timesunion.com, 518-454-5694
CEO Steve Swartz: sswartz@hearst.com, 212-649-2000
President of Newspaper Group Jeff Johnson: jeff.johnson@hearst.com, 212-649-2000
Guild President Wendy Liberatore spoke with the NYS AFL-CIO's Darcy Wells on the Union Strong podcast and broke down the history of our negotiations, Hearst's union-busting and just what is at stake for us and for local news.
Give it a watch or a listen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVqO...
Guild member H.R. Schneider snapped this photo from their car in Washington County while covering reactions at an apartment complex after a local woman was killed #journalismhappenshere
Despite management's in-office work requirements, some of our most essential work happens in the field, whether that's in news or sales
Join us at our picket this June! We have gone 17 years without a contract. We can no longer wait. #UnionStrong ✊🪧
We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8
We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today.
Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
- If you’re a union member, you have Weingarten rights that provide a union representative when you expect to be disciplined by a manager
- You are safe from retaliation and coercion from the company including being fired for union activity (5/5)
- You can organize members to join a union or take action against your employer
- You can engage in concerted actions like complaining, picketing, petitioning, walking out and striking (4/5)
It’s a also good time to remind not just our members, but anyone of what their protections are under national labor law (3/5)
While we are angry, we are not fearful. We will stand strong together and fight back. When we do, the company quakes, thus their recent actions (2/5)
Image of a bulletin board with a label that says “The Newspaper Guild-CWA of Albany Bulletin Board” and “Check here often for updates on your union activities” with the Newspaper Guild logo. Below it is a poster that says “Know Your Rights” and “It’s illegal to punish workers when they complain, petition, picket, walk out over working conditions” surrounded by images of an Albany Newspaper Guild picket. A red arrow says “Don’t take our word for it! Read it from the National Labor Relations Board.” It points to a QR code that says “Scan Me!” An image of New York Governor Kathy Hochul is captioned “Gov. Hochul came to our picket and told George Hearst that 17 years without a contract is too long.” A red Albany Newspaper Guild pin that says “Contract Now!!” is pinned to the board.
In the last few days, three Guild leaders were unfairly disciplined by management. One member was fired in what we see as an unwarranted, retaliatory action (1/5)
Stay tuned for more from us and our (still!) ongoing contract negotiations ✊🗞️(3/3)
The TU is undergoing asbestos abatement until April 8. Our concern remains that one worker or equipment error could expose employees to potential asbestos-related diseases. Letting our members work from home full-time until the abatement is done would put many at ease. It’s a simple ask (2/3)
A petition with an Albany Newspaper Guild logo that says the following: We, the undersigned, demand that Times Union management allow Guild-represented employees the choice to work from home during the asbestos remediation. We also ask the company share with the Guild the results of all air monitoring tests. This would help alleviate the overall fears associated with this remediation. If the removal company follows all protocols, it appears the air will remain safe. However, we've written many stories about professionals in their fields paying hefty insurance settlements after a catastrophic error. We are not willing to accept management's stance that this particular removal company will never make one mistake. Allowing Guild members who feel uncomfortable and threatened during the remediation to work from home would go a long way in restoring strained trust.
Albany Newspaper Guild President Wendy Liberatore and Secretary Kathleen Moore wearing red Guild shirts and holding petitions. The signatures are censored.
On Thursday, we presented Times Union publisher George Hearst with a petition signed by Albany Newspaper Guild members requesting staff be allowed to work from home during asbestos remediation in our building, as well as provide the Guild with results of all air monitoring (1/3)
Post-Walkout Update: This morning, at 6:00am ET, WGA East members at CBS News 24/7 returned to work following a 24-hour walkout that came about after management let the 60-member bargaining unit’s contract expire without reaching a new deal. The Union is in communication with CBS News management and awaits a response that fully addresses the issues still on the table. The CBS News 24/7 Union thanks the public, elected officials and labor allies for the outpouring of support.
The CBS News 24/7 Union thanks the public, elected officials and labor allies for the outpouring of support during our 24-hour walkout. ✊
And despite the fact CEO Steve Swartz boasted Heast’s year-to-year revenues were up 3% to $13.5 billion
Yes, billion. Clearly, the company cannot claim poverty (3/3)
www.hearst.com/-/2025-annua...
This is despite the fact the Journalism Sustainability Act our Guild helped pass gives the company a $320,000 a year tax credit for the next three years. And despite the fact Hearst is able to regularly make substantial donations, such as to workforce housing in the Adirondacks (2/3)
A serious of three orange-and-cream-colored coupons with the word "Discount" and barcodes on them. They are designed so the initial number or amount looks like the amount off on a coupon. The first says "3% is how much Hearst’s year-to-year revenues increased in 2025. But they will not commit to contractual raises for their workers." The second says "$13.5 billion is how much Hearst made last year in 2025. Yes, billion with a B. But they say they can’t guarantee raises." The third says "$320K is the annual tax credit Hearst earns in NY after the Guild helped pass the Journalism Sustainability Act."
Hearst has continued to reject our proposal for contractual wage increases for all (1/3)
The NewsGuild has been around for 93 years and this is the first time journalists have won a contract in the state of Alaska!
What are we going to do about this? We are using our frustrations to expand our public campaign. We received a wealth of support at our last picket, and we plan on securing even more. We’ll keep you all posted on our next move✊ (4/4)
At the same time Hearst is stalling on a fair contract with regular raises, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Journalism Sustainability Act is offering New York news outlets hefty tax credits for hiring and retaining reporters. The Times Union is eligible for $320,000 a year (3/4)
Since on-the-record bargaining resumed in July, the company has failed to make one single proposal on the record. We believe Hearst is trying to delay making a deal. They used this same tactic with our Guild siblings in Austin (2/4)
We had yet another frustrating bargaining session Thursday. The company declined to discuss any topics without seeing a comprehensive proposal from us. Except we did provide a proposal in November, one detailing many tentative agreements as well as sections that still need work (1/4)
This includes publications like Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping
While we hope Hearst is willing to come to the table with a fair contract, we are ready to stand by our @hearstunion.bsky.social siblings — offering our support and not crossing the digital picket line
From Variety: More than 400 @wgaeast.bsky.social members at 29 Hearst Magazine publications are ready to strike if Hearst fails to reach a fair contract today, the last day of scheduled bargaining
variety.com/2026/digital...
Our current Hearst Union contract expired 1/31, and after more than a month of bargaining and a strike pledge signed by 85% of our bargaining unit, we’re still fighting for basic respect & fair compensation.
Send a letter to help us demand a fair contract now: actionnetwork.org/letters/fair...!
We are proud to be among a coalition of unions backing the NY FAIR News Act. Readers and journalists need real protections against artificial intelligence! Read more about this bill here nyguild.org/post/fahy-ro...
We made our voices heard, but the fight is not over yet! We need Hearst to move forward with us on a contract, and we won’t stop until it’s done (3/3)
And thank you to all the anonymous passersby who honked your horns and showed us you care about local news and a fair contract for workers (2/3)
