Newsguild Members Strike at Southern California News Group

Last week, workers at the Southern California News Group (SCNG), including journalists, photographers, and other staff, staged a one-day strike to voice their frustration with management over slow contract negotiations. The workers formed a union, the SCNG Guild, part of the Media Guild of the West (TNG-CWA Local 39213) on June 11, 2021, and have yet to reach an agreement with management. Workers cite low pay, short staffing, and unsustainable work loads, with many employees making just above minimum wage and needing second jobs to make ends meet. SCNG is owned by Alden Global Capital, a vulture hedge fund known for destroying America’s newsrooms.

Josh Cain, SCNG Guild Vice-President, spoke to Spectrum News saying, “We are tired. We are tired of the cuts. We’re tired of waiting for a deal. It’s been long enough.”

“We want to bargain and bargain in good faith,” Cain said. “We’re not going to strike for multiple days. We want to send a message to the company...we’re ready to walk out but still want to bargain.”