Monday, May 19, 2008

Eat a burger, help build the Guild

A lot of you have been asking how you can get more involved in the Guild. A lot of you have been wondering how you can help with the organizing campaign at the Bay Area News Group -- East Bay. The time is now.

An election has been scheduled for June 13 for BANG-EB employees to decide whether they want to join the Guild. Better than a majority have told us they do. But we need your help in combating the anti-union campaign Dean Singleton and his MediaNews managers, attorneys and consultants are spreading.

Your task won't be too tough -- We want you to attend a picnic/BBQ, eat some burgers and chat about the Guild, and why you care about the union. The picnic is May 31 from noon to 4 p.m. at Live Oak Park in Berkeley. Bring the spouse, the kids, the in-laws and any Guild supporters you can round up. A side dish would be nice, too. (But no booze in the park; it's against city ordinance). The Guild will provide the burgers, the drinks and the entertainmment.

In addition to talking up the Guild at the picnic/BBQ, if you know anyone at the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune or other MediaNews papers in the East Bay, give them a call, drop an e-mail or buy them a cup of coffee or a beer and tell them why it's a good idea to form a union in the newsroom.

Our strength as a union comes from our committed membership. So c'mon out, have a burger or two, and help the folks at BANG win a union election. Their success will make us all stronger.