Nationwide workers walkout by hundreds of Gannett journalist
This week, the country’s largest newspaper chain, Gannett, is making some big headlines.
Hundreds of its workers walked out of the newsroom and went on a worker’s strike demanding better treatment for pay and local journalism.
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“We felt there was a need to convey to Gannett that there is value in the work that we do,” said Patterson.
For nearly 40 years Steve Patterson has been a reporter at The Florida Times Union, whose parent company is Gannett.
The mass media outlet is accused of cutting jobs and hurting local journalism. According to a press release from a workers union called The Times-Union Newsguild, Gannett employees have not been given a raise in almost 5 years.
“Financial issues we are just not making progress,” said Patterson.
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Russel Harper President of The North Florida Central Labor Council stood by reporters like Patterson. He helps to represent all union workers in Northeast Florida. He says all workers deserve decent pay and benefits.
“The shortest concise message is treat your workers like you’d like to be treated. You always need more money with the cost of living like it is today and the cost of housing? Everybody needs more money but 5 years without getting a raise is a long time.” says Harper.
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This walkout by Gannett employees stems from a nearly 5 yearlong contract with The Times-Union News Guild where employees say newsrooms positions and pay have been consistently cut.
Related Read: Local journalists going on strike
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