FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2024
Contact: baltsunguild@gmail.com
BALTIMORE, MD – Following the unjust firing of a coworker and disgraceful union-busting proposals that continue to be raised by management at the bargaining table, The Baltimore Sun Guild and supporters will rally for the soul of The Sun – its workers – at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 5 at McKeldin Square in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (101 E. Pratt St.).
Leaders at the newspaper and community allies will gather to support the Guild’s ongoing efforts for a new, fair contract with The Baltimore Sun’s management. Join us to listen to speakers, and show support for the union workers who make the newspaper possible — reporters, photographers, designers, sales representatives and customer service representatives.
Our ongoing fight is not solely about a strong contract that protects workers on the job, but is also about preserving journalistic integrity, given sliding standards under new ownership.
The Guild has presented good faith proposals for an updated contract, but the company has responded with egregious proposals, including thinly veiled efforts to wrest power from Guild members and slash fundamental job securities that make us a union – like seniority protections during a layoff and the requirement of just and sufficient cause for dismissal.
Additionally, The Sun’s ethical standards have quickly shifted under new ownership. Simple journalistic principles have been ignored, particularly in stories published by Sinclair Media Group. When one Guild member and leader, Maddi O’Neill, internally highlighted some of those now-ignored standards, she was fired. Management capitalized upon the fact that Maddi, still in her probationary period as a recent hire, did not have full union protection.
The Baltimore Sun Guild will not be intimidated by the dismissal of a member for speaking up about the importance of integrity, nor by efforts to remove job protections from our contract.
RSVP for the Oct. 5 rally: bit.ly/sunrally
Community members and Sun readers can also voice their concerns and support of the Guild by writing a letter to owners David Smith and Armstrong Williams.
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Contact: baltsunguild@gmail.com
