Omaha World-Herald News Staff Votes for Union

OMAHA, Neb.—Newsroom employees of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper voted to unionize by a 71-5 margin, the NewsGuild announced Oct. 8. “Today is a historic day as journalists make the Omaha World-Herald the first newspaper newsroom to organize in Nebraska,” longtime reporter Todd Cooper said in a statement released by the union. “But our overwhelming vote really just reinforces what we’ve always had here—a dedicated group of journalists committed to the future of Nebraska’s best newspaper.” The union will represent 80 to 90 reporters, copy editors, and photographers. Many have gone 10 years without a raise, the NewsGuild says, and more than a dozen were laid off or took early retirement this year. The paper’s owner, Omaha-based BH Media Group, is owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company. “We organized The Omaha World-Herald Guild to protect a cherished Nebraska institution and to have a say in its future,” columnist Erin Grace said. Nebraska State AFL-CIO President Susan Martin said the paper unionizing would help preserve “high-quality, independent, local journalism and good journalism jobs in Nebraska.” Read more