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Global Solidarity Aids Drive at Spanish Agency
Aided by fellow unionists in Spain, U.S. journalists at the Spanish news agency EFE won representation in an NLRB election Sept. 29, when workers voted 23-14 for TNG-CWA. Based in Miami, their unit of about 40 works out of news bureaus there as well as in Washington, D.C., New York and other cities. They will be represented by the News Media Guild, Local 31222.
"We chose the News Media Guild because of its commitment to workplace democracy and high professional standards," said Benito Garcia, a news editor in Miami and member of the organizing committee.
Said Jorge Bañales, an editor in Washington, "EFE is a decent employer that respects the union rights of its workers in Spain. We call on the company to do likewise here and begin bargaining a fair contract for its U.S. based workers."
Aware that their working conditions were inferior to those of their union-represented colleagues at EFE News in Spain, Garcia and another former United Press International member of Local 31222 approached the local for help in organizing their workplace.
Local 31222 President Tony Winton and TNG-CWA Sector Representative Jim Schaufenbil helped them develop an organizing committee in the three major U.S. cities.
As the organizing drive proceeded, representatives of two Spanish unions that represent EFE workers, the Commissiones Obreras and Comité Intercentros, reached out to EFE management in Spain, where the company's employees work under a negotiated agreement. The Commissiones Obreras is part of the International Federation of Journalists.
Wynton said the Spanish unions interceded with the Spanish executives in winning assurances of a free and fair vote.
"Truthfully the IFJ really stepped up to the plate," Wynton said. "We didn't have a direct relationship with the Spanish unions, but the IFJ does. They represent media workers around the world. They built that bridge for us."
Said TNG-CWA President Linda Foley, "The outreach to EFE management by the IFJ and the solidarity of our colleagues in Spain made this victory possible. Without their help, our new members at EFE would continue to be bereft of a democratic voice in the workplace." Foley is an IFJ vice president.
"We chose the News Media Guild because of its commitment to workplace democracy and high professional standards," said Benito Garcia, a news editor in Miami and member of the organizing committee.
Said Jorge Bañales, an editor in Washington, "EFE is a decent employer that respects the union rights of its workers in Spain. We call on the company to do likewise here and begin bargaining a fair contract for its U.S. based workers."
Aware that their working conditions were inferior to those of their union-represented colleagues at EFE News in Spain, Garcia and another former United Press International member of Local 31222 approached the local for help in organizing their workplace.
Local 31222 President Tony Winton and TNG-CWA Sector Representative Jim Schaufenbil helped them develop an organizing committee in the three major U.S. cities.
As the organizing drive proceeded, representatives of two Spanish unions that represent EFE workers, the Commissiones Obreras and Comité Intercentros, reached out to EFE management in Spain, where the company's employees work under a negotiated agreement. The Commissiones Obreras is part of the International Federation of Journalists.
Wynton said the Spanish unions interceded with the Spanish executives in winning assurances of a free and fair vote.
"Truthfully the IFJ really stepped up to the plate," Wynton said. "We didn't have a direct relationship with the Spanish unions, but the IFJ does. They represent media workers around the world. They built that bridge for us."
Said TNG-CWA President Linda Foley, "The outreach to EFE management by the IFJ and the solidarity of our colleagues in Spain made this victory possible. Without their help, our new members at EFE would continue to be bereft of a democratic voice in the workplace." Foley is an IFJ vice president.