Since word broke this morning about the sale of The Buffalo News to Lee Enterprises, the Guild leadership team has scrambled to research all the implications this may have for our members. While there is limited information we know right now, we want to assure all members that we are doing everything possible to find out what this means for us and to answer as many questions as possible.
Just since this morning, Guild leaders have had a preliminary meeting to discuss the sale and been in touch with national NewsGuild-CWA leaders. We are continuing those conversations tomorrow and in the days ahead. We have also been in the process of gathering more information about the sale and how this will impact the employees here, including the more than 200 who are represented by the Guild. We have also posted a statement on Twitter.
For now, what is most important is for our members to know that our contract remains in full force and effect, and will continue to remain in place even after Lee Enterprises assume full ownership in March. Those working in Prepress should also know their current contracts also remain in effect.
We have a regular membership meeting scheduled for Feb. 12. If we need to have one sooner, we will. In the meantime, we will send our members information and updates as soon as we have reliable answers. Please feel free to reach out to your department’s Guild representative or to our Administrative Officer Kim Leiser if you have any pressing concerns. We discourage anyone from publicly speculating on details that neither the Guild nor The News has confirmed.
Regardless of who owns us, the Guild will, as always, do everything in its power to safeguard the work we do and the people who do it. Stay tuned for more to come.
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 