Organizing Update

Hearst Connecticut Media Group

Ten days after going public with their union drive, Adrian Szkolar—a member of the Connecticut News Guild’s organizing committee—was fired, in what the Guild believes is retaliation.

Szkolar was a digital producer for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, the state’s largest newspaper group. He was asked, as part of his job, to post a Hearst story about the Connecticut News Guild to the company's Facebook account. He captioned it with a statistic that was true, but not in the piece. He was subsequently terminated.

The Connecticut News Guild believes this to be a clear case of retaliation for organizing and is asking supporters to write a letter to Hearst Connecticut Media Group management, demanding they reinstate Szkolar and recognize the Connecticut News Guild.

“We’re passionate about our livelihoods and the service we provide to our readers,” Szkolar said in a statement announcing the union drive. “That’s why we’re coming together as one. We want to have a seat at the table and work with Hearst to be sure that our quality work will continue in the future.”

 
Members of the Connecticut News Guild mobilized last week in a show of solidarity with their colleague, organizer, and fellow Guild member Adrian Szkolar.

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Bethesda Game Studios – Montreal

Earlier this month, developers, engineers, programmers, graphic artists, and quality assurance staff at Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) in Montreal celebrated a win when the Quebec Labour Relations Board granted union certification to workers at game developer Bethesda Game Studios in Montreal. Their successful union campaign began in late June.

President of CWA-SCA Canada Carmel Smyth welcomed the new members: “CWA Canada is proud to support the efforts and commitment of these brave workers who are improving the potential for generations of workers in the video gaming industry.”

This victory would not have been possible without the work of the BGS organizing committee, the World of Warcraft Gamemaker’s Guild-CWA, and the CWA and CWA Canada organizing and legal teams.