• by Ray Schultz , September 2, 2022

Gannett has been hit by a union protest at the Indianapolis Star.

Several reporters picketed around Monument Circle in Indianapolis on Thursday, PBS reports. The purpose: to publicize a union contract dispute with Gannett. The staff has been without a contract for two years. 

The union alleges that Gannett has delayed or shown up “unprepared” to negotiating sessions. And it “belittled” proposals related to workplace safety and diversity, PBS reports. 

“Our contract proposal is pretty big,” says Jenna Watson, photojournalist and Indianapolis NewsGuild president, according to PBS. “But, we've been at it for a couple years. And we are here to say ‘enough is enough.’”

The union also seeks an updated pay scale, yearly cost of living raises, more protections for workplace health and safety, a better severance package, and improved practices for diversity in hiring and retention, PBS writes. 

In addition, the union wants Gannett to do a pay study because “we believe there's some pay inequities among different journalists, particularly of different racial backgrounds, gender identities,” Watson adds. 

Gannett responded to PBS with a statement saying that the company “values and respects” IndyStar’s employees, negotiates in good faith, and expects to have a contract “soon.” 

All this is occurring during a rocky period for Gannet. 

Around 400 employees, 3% of the workforce, have been laid off, CEO Mike Reed told the staff, according to Poynter. In addition, the chain of 200 newspapers will not fill 400 open positions. Some of the layoffs losses were in Indiana, PBS reports. 

Over 20 Gannett publications are trying to unionize, Poynter states. The job losses mostly occurred at non-union newsrooms. 

Earlier this month, Gannett released financials, showing a total revenue drop of 6.9% to $748.7 million and a $53.7 million net loss. Included in the total hit was an 8.9% decrease in digital media ads due, in part, to a softer programmatic ad market. Also, Gannett suffered “greater than expected losses in print,” Reed said during an investor call.