• by Ray Schultz , September 26, 2024

Union journalists have voted to strike against the Southern California News Group (SCNG) in what they claim is the first open-ended strike ever taken against an Alden Global Capital newsroom. 

Of 125 reporters, photographers, digital, social media and production staff represented by the SCNG Guild, 94% voted to authorize a strike. 

This would hit 11 newsrooms, says the union, a unit of Media Guild of the West. 

SCNG is part of Alden Global Capital’s MediaNews Group.

The union alleges that many SCNG reporters have gone 10 years or longer without a pay raise and that the company was guilty of unfair labor practices and stalling tactics in negotiations. 

“Alden Global Capital still thinks paying less than $20 an hour is an acceptable wage for reporters serving hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians,” said Matt Pearce, President of Media Guild of the West. “SCNG journalists and news workers have overwhelmingly authorized a strike to help Alden get with the times by agreeing to a fair contract with a fair wage.”