Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild -- Frequently Asked Questions

Guild Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (WBNG)?

Originally founded as a union for journalists, today the Guild bargains contracts for and protects the rights of various workers throughout the news and information industry and labor-related organizations. WBNG is the legally recognized union for more than 3,000 news, information and labor-organization workers at 18 different employers in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area. In this role, the employers at Guild-represented workplaces are legally obligated to bargain with the union over the compensation, benefits and working conditions of their employees.

2. Who runs the union?

Guild members are the highest authority of the local, and the members run the union. As a highly democratic organization, WBNG members determine what to bargain for in contract talks, decide how the local's resources are used, set local union policies and goals, and can run for union leadership positions within their individual workplaces or for local-wide posts.

Click here for a list of Local 32035's Officers, Executive Council and Staff.

3. Who does WBNG represent?

WBNG represents more than 3,000 journalists, classified sales reps, technicians, computer programmers, accounting personnel, circulation workers, production workers, researchers , public relations reps and other workers at the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, international news agencies, public relations firms, and the staffs of other labor organizations, including the staff of the AFL-CIO.

4. How was the local created?

WBNG was founded in January 1934, just six weeks after the national Newspaper Guild held its founding convention in Washington D.C.'s Willard Hotel. The local was organized during the depths of the Great Depression to improve the economic and working conditions of Washington-area journalists, many of whom often worked more than 50 hours a week for as little as $20. Founding WBNG members fought hard to get journalists covered by then-emerging labor laws that guaranteed workers the right to organize unions and the right to overtime pay. At the time, newspaper publishers were lobbying the White House to exclude journalists from such protections, arguing -- unsuccessfully -- that the proposed laws threatened their First Amendment right to free speech. Since helping to guarantee journalists' rights under federal labor laws, the Guild has worked, both locally and nationally, to protect and expand the rights of workers in its jurisdiction.

5. How do I contact the local Guild office?

*The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild* *TNG-CWA, Local 32035* [About Local 32035] [Local Leaders] [Local Staff] [Unit Leaders] [Local Bylaws & Governance] [Contracts] [Newsroom] [Need a Union?] [Labor Calendar] [Related Sites] [Home Page]
Guild Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (WBNG)? Originally founded as a union for journalists, today the Guild bargains contracts for and protects the rights of various workers throughout the news and information industry and labor-related organizations. WBNG is the legally recognized union for more than 3,000 news, information and labor-organization workers at 18 different employers in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area. In this role, the employers at Guild-represented workplaces are legally obligated to bargain with the union over the compensation, benefits and working conditions of their employees. 2. Who runs the union? Guild members are the highest authority of the local, and the members run the union. As a highly democratic organization, WBNG members determine what to bargain for in contract talks, decide how the local's resources are used, set local union policies and goals, and can run for union leadership positions within their individual workplaces or for local-wide posts. Click here for a list of Local 32035's Officers, Executive Council and Staff. 3. Who does WBNG represent? WBNG represents more than 3,000 journalists, classified sales reps, technicians, computer programmers, accounting personnel, circulation workers, production workers, researchers , public relations reps and other workers at the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, international news agencies, public relations firms, and the staffs of other labor organizations, including the staff of the AFL-CIO. 4. How was the local created? WBNG was founded in January 1934, just six weeks after the national Newspaper Guild held its founding convention in Washington D.C.'s Willard Hotel. The local was organized during the depths of the Great Depression to improve the economic and working conditions of Washington-area journalists, many of whom often worked more than 50 hours a week for as little as $20. Founding WBNG members fought hard to get journalists covered by then-emerging labor laws that guaranteed workers the right to organize unions and the right to overtime pay. At the time, newspaper publishers were lobbying the White House to exclude journalists from such protections, arguing -- unsuccessfully -- that the proposed laws threatened their First Amendment right to free speech. Since helping to guarantee journalists' rights under federal labor laws, the Guild has worked, both locally and nationally, to protect and expand the rights of workers in its jurisdiction. 5. How do I contact the local Guild office?
	Our Washington office street address is: The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, 1100 15th Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20005.
	Our telephone number is 202-785-3650.
	Our fax number is 202-785-3659.
	Our general e-mail address is local32035@wbng.org.
We also have a Baltimore office that is not regularly staffed. Its address is:415 St. Paul Place, Baltimore MD 21202. Its phone numbers are 410-752-6930 (voice) and 410-752-8340 (fax). Return to Top of Page Return to Guild Local Home Page
[About Local 32035] [Local Leaders] [Local Staff] [Unit Leaders] [Local Bylaws & Governance] [Contracts] [Newsroom] [Need a Union?] [Labor Calendar] [Related Sites] [Home Page] Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Local 32035 TNG-CWA, AFL-CIO/ 1100 15th St., NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20005/ 202-785-3650 /Fax: 202-785-3659 Copyright © 2003 Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild

The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild

TNG-CWA, Local 32035

Guild Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (WBNG)?