Journalists at the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper, announced formation of the Daily Herald News Guild and filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, the guild said, representing 20 eligible staff members. [1] [2] The drive follows the August 10 layoff of 12 staffers, including executive editor Lisa Miner and the paper's copy desk, less than two months after Tribune Publishing acquired the 154-year-old paper. [1]

Nineteen of the 20 eligible members had signed union cards as of the filing, and the guild says it is the ninth round of cuts at the Daily Herald since 2017, including eight rounds of buyouts. [2] Wages have fallen at least 15 percent and the workweek has shrunk to under 37 hours over the past decade, the union said. [2] "For decades our newsroom has been decimated," said Kevin Schmit, the paper's associate sports editor and a 29-year employee, in a statement. [1] [2]

The Daily Herald News Guild is joining Chicago News Guild Local 34071 TNG-CWA, which represents more than 600 media and publishing workers regionally. Tribune Publishing, owned by Alden Global Capital, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from either outlet. [1] [2]

-- ANNA WEBER, Berlin