New year, new Guild

Like almost everyone else during the holidays, I had great plans to do all kinds of things the past month or so, but ran out of time or energy or both. Turns out I was too busy cramming in shopping during my spare time to write that blog post about tips on buying union gifts for the holidays. As they say, it's the thought that counts.

Maybe I'm just feeling all warm and gushy because of the season -- or is it the egg nog? -- but I think things are looking good for the Guild. After an ugly summer that started (and continued for months) with dozens of layoffs at the Chronicle, and ended with the ANG unit having their union representation stolen from them, we've enjoyed a good couple of months. And we've got momentum on our side as we roll into 2008.

At the aforementioned Chronicle, members decided not to wallow in the post-buyout depression and instead use the opportunity to build a better unit. An enthusiastic group of new leaders has stepped forward and is hard at work recruiting and training new stewards, filling committees, rescuscitating the Chronicle Insider newsletter and coming up with lots of new ideas.

The disenfranchised ANG members have rallied, too. Despite having their union membership taken away (illegally, we believe), they've never given up. Dozens of them still pay union dues -- voluntarily and without payroll deduction -- and they've been active in trying to convince their new brethren and sistren at the Contra Costa Times that joining the Guild is the smart thing to do. As they say in their weekly newsletter: "We're still here. Don't believe the hype."

The effort to organize the Contra Costa Times is taking off. An organizing committee has formed and we hope to start collecting signed union cards in the months to come. In addition to the efforts of the ANG unit, a slew of Chronicle reporters offered their time and in some cases their homes to help with the organizing drive.

The McClatchy units -- at the Sacramento, Fresno and Modesto Bee newspapers -- are also getting stronger with new leadership, a new contract in Fresno, and more members signing up. With McClatchy no longer a smallish chain with a California focus, the Guild's role is crucial in the valley.

There's no question we've got a lot of challenges, and a lot of work, ahead of us. But we're not moping about the sad state of the newspaper industry and the the union movement (Well, maybe occasionally, over beers after work). Instead, we're building a better union. A new Guild for the new year.