Newspaper Guild Members Hold One-Day ULP Strike

In May, columnists, photographers, and reporters with the Idaho Statesman, represented by the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild (TNG-CWA Local 37085) and affectionately known as the “Idaho NewsGuild,” engaged in a one-day unfair labor practice strike over unfair wages and management’s use of generative artificial intelligence. Idaho members joined other news workers also represented by the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, from the Tacoma News Tribune, the Tri-City Herald, the Bellingham Herald, and The Olympian, calling out owner McClatchy Media. Statesman members accuse McClatchy of engaging in bad faith bargaining and refusing to bring decision-makers to the table or even identify them.

Workers expressed major concerns over the use of AI in generating news content. The content, like an AI-generated story posted last year that mistakenly reported a local brewery had closed, undermines credibility in the newsroom. Wages are also a concern for members, as McClatchy is offering a paltry 2% wage increase, despite cost-of-living increases in rent and other essentials.

Idaho NewsGuild members have been bargaining since May 2025.

Despite all being represented by the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, the Idaho NewsGuild workers are currently bargaining a separate contract from the other four news outlets who took part in the strike. Both bargaining teams have decided to put the current proposed contract language before the members to gauge where members stand on it. That vote will likely be held next week.

---

This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.