Dayton Guild: A Quarter-Century of Solidarity Against All Odds

Dayton Newspaper Guild members, pictured earlier this year at an MLK Day parade, have been fighting for a new contract for more than two decades.

Despite one of the longest contract battles in union history, members of the Dayton Newspaper Guild-CWA at the Dayton Daily News remain tenacious and determined. On Monday, they marked the 25th anniversary of becoming part of TNG-CWA, the same day they ratified their last contract. Even their industry's monumental changes and layoffs, including a new round just announced by the newspaper, haven't broken their spirit. In an email excerpted here, Local President Lou Grieco explained to his members why they're heroes in the union movement.

I know some might consider the company's stonewalling a success, but it isn't. We have persevered against amazing odds, against one of the wealthiest and most powerful companies in the country, during a time when union strength nationwide has ebbed.

Anyone could build a union after FDR signed the Wagner Act. Try building one after Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. Well, we did. I can tell you without reservation: we are considered heroes in The Newspaper Guild, the Communications Workers of America and the AFL-CIO.

Along the way, we have helped countless people — including free-riders, who benefit despite never paying dues. We have made sure...that there are basic rules governing our working conditions that the company can't change at a whim. We haven't won everything, but no one does. Our members have come out ahead of the non-union employees time and time again.

And we are still strong: more than 70 percent of the people we represent support this union. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. Wear black on Monday. Send a message, the bigger the better.