Welcome to the new Washington Post Newspaper Guild Web site. Our jurisdiction covers more than 1,000 members in the newsroom and on the commercial side. In January 2010, we will also begin representing  some of the workers from WPNI.  We are reporters; we are advertising sales reps; we are copy editors; we are telephone-sales people; we are photographers; we are artists; we are computer operators — just to name a few. We are the people who help make the Washington Post a great paper.Our hope is this site will make it easier for you to express concerns, raise questions and contact us. We want to know what you’re thinking, particularly in these uncertain times in the newspaper industry.

The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild…..Makes History

The April 1966 merger of the Washington Newspaper Guild Local 35, with the Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Local 54, formed the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild Local 35.  At the time of the merger both locals belonged to the American Newspaper Guild, which was founded in 1933 by famed New York journalist Heywood Broun.

In fact, it was a Washington Post reporter J. Bernard McDonnell, who hosted at his home the founding meeting of what was to become Local 35 in January 1934, soon after the national Guild was formed.

On January 28, 1934, some 75 Washington-based journalists met in the District Building’s board room and formally founded Local 35.  At their next meeting, the members voted Washington Post reporter J.D. Secrest to be the local’s first secretary

“Washington Post employees have a long history with the Guild.”

Three years later Local 35 achieved its first written agreement on pay, working conditions, and benefits for Washington Post employees.  Throughout most of 1936, when the company officially recognized the Guild as the bargaining representative for 36 of its employees, Post management refused to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the Union but, when Guild members from the Post met later that year to discuss a strike vote, management learned of the meeting, and Publisher Eugene Meyer contacted Guild negotiators and immediately agreed to open talks on a “statement of policy.”  Under the Guild-bargained “policy”, Guild covered Post employees won a 40 hour a week work week, wage parity with the past rival Washington Daily News, paid vacation and sick leave and two weeks advance dismissal notice or severance pay.

In June 1938, the Guild reached its first contract here-signed by both sides, which raised top minimum weekly salaries:

from $15 to $18 for “copy boys
from$40 to $45 for reporters and photographers
from $35 to $45 for librarians; and
from $45 to $50 for copy editors.

In the 60 plus years since our first contract was signed, the top minimum weekly salary for reporters, editors, outside ad sales staff, photographers and commercial artists has risen to $1022 per week .

Other benefits have improved significantly over the years.  Before December 1969, employees had to have 10 years of service at the Post before getting four weeks vacation.  But in 1970, the Guild negotiated four weeks vacation for employees with five year’s of service.  Currently, employees get four weeks vacation after four years of service.

As required by law, the Post must bargain over all issues relating to wages, hours and working conditions with the Guild.  The Post’s many Guild members understand the need to bind together in a union to protect their rights and bargain together for an even better workplace.  Today the Guild is in the forefront of every issue important to the Post employees.  The Guild exposes the inequities of the merit pay system; improves conditions in Post call centers; pushes for additional compensation for online work; and agitates for better health benefit coverage.