Kicking off the year with a town hall, to introduce stewards, go over benefits won with the contract, answer questions, and hear concerns.

For our fall in-person meetup, we'll be headed to the Durham Farmers' Market and craft fair on Saturday, October 19, 10am-12pm. We'll pick a spot to camp out in Durham Central Park just across the street. There are lots of stalls and trucks for breakfast or brunch, coffee, smoothies, and more! Families and furry friends are welcome.

Now that management has officially signed our collective bargaining agreement, we have a host of new rights, but those rights are only as good as our ability to know and enforce them. Stewards are the front-line advocates and mobilizers for the bargaining unit--they serve as liaisons between union leadership and members, keeping an ear to the ground for workplace issues that the union can help with and making sure everyone in the unit has someone they know and trust to talk to if they need support.

To adequately cover the bargaining unit, we would love to have someone from every department serving as a steward. You don't need any experience with unions to serve, just a willingness to learn the ins and outs of the contract and keep in touch with your coworkers. The News Guild holds regular steward trainings that cover everything from grievance procedures to Weingarten rights and organizing, and you'll have the backing of all your colleagues who have already been helping to fight for the rights of press staff. If you don't feel comfortable in that role, please take a moment to think about who in your department you trust and encourage them to volunteer so you know you can count on someone when you need them.

If you're interested and have any questions or would like to learn more about what it means to be a steward, we will be holding a Q&A info session next Wednesday, September 18, 12pm-1 p.m. Keep an eye out for an invite with Zoom details on your work calendar.

Join us on Zoom (link to come) Wednesday, August 21, 6:00-7:30pm for a casual hangout. We'll be playing Jackbox, a collection of games based on Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, and charades. Gameplay is based in puns, social deduction, two truths and one lie, and other familiar party pastimes.

How do you play?
- Open your preferred browser on your phone or personal computer. In the Zoom chat, we'll share a unique link to the "lobby" that we are using, which will allow you to create your player name. No need to download any new apps or create any new accounts!
- We will share the main game screen on Zoom.
- On your personal device, the game will prompt you when it's time for you to submit answers. If you would rather not participate yourself, you can sign up as a participant observer, or simply laugh along with us!

We’re holding extra office hours for those who can’t make Monday’s Contract Informational Meeting or have lingering questions. See the outlook calendar invite in your work email.

Only members of the union are able to vote on the contract, and because of the length of time since our vote to form the union, we need new cards from everyone who wishes to join, regardless of whether you signed one in the past. If you'd like to join the union and vote, we will need your (electronically) signed card before voting begins. Everyone who has joined the union by then will receive a link to vote online on ratification, sent to the personal email address you list on the form. See your work email and join the Monday, July 8 meeting for more information.

We’re holding extra office hours for those who can’t make Monday’s Contract Informational Meeting or have lingering questions. See the outlook calendar invite in your work email.

On Monday, July 8, from 1-3 p.m., the bargaining team will host an informational meeting to go over the highlights of the contract and answer any questions you have.

See your work email for more information.

Negotiations with Duke continue.

This session will be in person.

Negotiations with Duke continue.

Session will be in person.

The Union Council would like to welcome all of our members to an informal summer gathering at Northgate Park to mingle and socialize. We’d love to get to know you all better! The event is family friendly and the park is complete with shelter and bathrooms, although the playgrounds are unfortunately out of commission. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

For our remote members, don’t worry, you haven’t been forgotten! A virtual get-together is in the works.

Negotiations with Duke continue.

Session will be held over Zoom.

In order to share Management’s economic proposals and check in with you about where our bargaining priorities should be, we'll be holding a bargaining follow-up information session and Q&A Wednesday, May 22, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. (Check your email for the zoom link.) Please come as we’d love to hear from you! 

After a scheduling hiatus, the bargaining committee will be back in person at the negotiating table with Duke, and we expect this to be an important session. Management has been delaying giving us any economic proposals (the big articles on wages, benefits, time off, and anything else that will affect Duke's budget) until we could meet in person, and we're expecting a "comprehensive" proposal.