Detroit Guild calls on USA Today Co. to protect Detroit News jobs, contract

Contact: Stevie Blanchard, Administrative Officer | stevie@detroitguild22.org | 928-380-0286
Dylan Manshack, Comms | dmanshack@cwa-union.org | 202-445-4033

DETROIT — Media News Group announced on Monday it is selling The Detroit News to USA Today Co., the largest newspaper owner in the U.S. and owner of the Detroit Free Press.

For decades, both The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press participated in a joint operating agreement that was designed to keep the two competitors in business. The newsrooms were independent, but USA Today Co. oversaw the business operations of both papers. The JOA ended at the end of 2025 and both companies publicly stated they planned to operate separately at the beginning of 2026.

At a time of increasing artificial intelligence-generated content and threats to local news, the sale of The Detroit News raises questions about the future of the newspapers and the future of journalism in Michigan’s largest city. USA Today Co. has extended job offers to Detroit News employees and said it will continue to publish the papers separately, but has said it will not honor Detroit News Guild members’ current contract and will imposed initial terms and conditions of employment. 

“USA Today must support Detroit News Guild members during this acquisition by agreeing to a fair contract that preserves our rights, pay and benefits,” said Carol Thompson, The Detroit News unit leader and environment reporter. “Our work is essential. We break news, keep our communities informed and keep our leaders accountable. It is imperative that USA Today supports our members so we can continue to do this essential work.”

“The company formerly known as Gannett said readers can expect continued delivery of high-quality news and that is only possible by keeping and respecting the journalists who made the News and Free Press the trusted sources they are today,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “The entire NewsGuild-CWA stands with our members in Detroit and demands that USA Today Co. agree to fair terms and treat journalists with respect.”

About the Newspaper Guild of Detroit

The Newspaper Guild of Detroit, TNG-CWA Local 34022, represents workers at the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, the Observer & Eccentric, the Macomb Daily, the Ferndale Area District Library, Michigan United and several other workplaces.  It’s a local union of The NewsGuild-CWA, which represents about 27,000 workers at about 500 workplaces and is the largest union of journalists and media workers in North America.  

DETROIT – The Newspaper Guild of Detroit, CWA local 34022, has ratified a new two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Detroit Free Press and Gannett.

Members approved the agreement overwhelmingly on April 29-30, with more than 90% of the votes in favor.

The new contract provides long-overdue across-the-board wage increases in both years of the deal — the largest increases in more than a decade — as well as meaningful improvements to pay minimums and additional personal time off. It adds 10 weeks of paid parental leave, reduces the time it takes for new hires to qualify for health insurance and includes the addition of an agency fee, meaning everyone who benefits from Guild representation will contribute to the effort. That being said, the vast majority of Free Press bargaining unit employees, including reporters, photographers, web editors and assistant editors, are already Guild members.

Just as important, the new contract maintains the current high quality health insurance that Guild members enjoy and protects the pension, another key benefit for members and alumni. It also ensures Gannett may only use artificial intelligence in a way that is “supplementary to local news reporting and writing and is not a replacement for it.” 

“Our members have remained committed to the mission of the Free Press over the years, even in challenging times. Our journalists work hard, often sacrificing for the cause, to make sure the Free Press remains an essential news source,” according to Eric D. Lawrence, president of local 34022 and Free Press unit chair. “This contract includes important gains, helps address some key needs and acknowledges how essential our members are to the future of the Free Press. The overwhelming vote in support of the agreement shows our members see the contract as the win that it is.”

The bargaining committee spent many hours preparing and mobilizing, and members were engaged during more than six months of bargaining.

With the new contract in place, Free Press journalists can continue focusing on the important work they do every day, shining a light on metro Detroit and Michigan and keeping readers informed.

New Officers Elected

Welcome new officer Colin Battershell (SEIU Healthcare MI) , Vice-President and Tamar Samir (UAW Comms Dept), Secretary. Tamar was elected at the February 2025 General Membership Meeting by acclamation. Colin was elected by acclamation after originally there being a contested election for Vice-President. The other candidate withdrew from the race as of Friday, March 15 and Colin was elected by acclamation as there was no longer a second candidate.