Union Strikes Planned For Three NJ Gannett Newspapers

Journalists from three New Jersey newspapers, united under a union, have overwhelmingly decided to strike, protesting what they call unfair negotiation tactics by their employer, Gannett, unless a new contract is secured this week. The AOO-MCJ Guild, which represents workers at the Asbury Park Press, the Courier-News, and the Home News Tribune, held a vote on Monday where 95% approved the walkout, with 90% of members casting ballots.

Mike Davis, a reporter at the Asbury Park Press and the acting union chair, expressed the frustration felt by the staff: “Our members are fed up. Local news depends on journalists, and we’re tired of waiting for Gannett to recognize our worth. It’s time they learn that lesson the tough way.”

The union claims Gannett is rolling out artificial intelligence policies that negatively impact working conditions and accuses the company of targeting employees for their union involvement. They also point out that most journalists haven’t received raises in six years. Meanwhile, Gannett’s stock value has slipped nearly 11% in the past three months.

This isn’t the first clash between Gannett and its New Jersey workforce. In November 2022, employees at six of the company’s newspapers—including the Bergen Record, Daily Record, and New Jersey Herald—walked out for a day, just before the mid-term elections. Another one-day strike hit the same six papers in June 2023, ahead of the primaries.

Circulation numbers for Gannett’s New Jersey titles have plummeted. The Asbury Park Press now prints just 11,513 papers daily, an 89.3% drop since 2007. The Courier-News has fallen to 1,337 copies, down 95.9% from 2007, while the Home News Tribune’s daily run of 2,144 reflects a 95.6% decline since 2010. Nationally, daily newspaper circulation has decreased by 40% since 2015, according to the Pew Research Center.

The unrest isn’t limited to New Jersey—three Gannett-owned papers in New York are also gearing up for a potential walkout.