Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Journalists at the New York Daily News reached a tentative agreement with the paper’s owner, Alden Global Capital, for a first contract. The union members still must vote to ratify the contract. The NewsGuild of New York, an affiliate of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA), represents the tabloid’s print, digital and photo employees.

“I could not be prouder of everyone in the Daily News Union who made this possible,” said Michael Sheridan, unit chair of the Daily News Union. “Winning the first contract for the Daily News’ workers in more than 30 years was an uphill battle. From the historic walkout to distributing flyers and organizing rallies, it was a Herculean effort. But it never would have happened without the dedicated efforts of dozens of people, including those who have left the News for bigger and better things.”

The contract includes minimum salaries of $60,000 at ratification and $63,000 by May 2026; minimum salaries of $75,000 for senior reporters and senior content editors; annual raises at ratification of 3% across the board and another 3% across-the-board increase in May 2026; expanded benefits for part-timers, including health care coverage for the first time; protection of the current flexible time-off plan for those who currently have it and for any new hires in the sports department going forward; preservation of retirement benefits and enhanced paid leave; just cause protections that guarantee due process and representation should a worker face discipline or termination; performance reviews that take stock rather than presaging disciplinary action; stronger health and safety protections for reporters and photographers regarding harassment, assignment safety, trauma and other risks; training requirements for new programs, processes and protocols; creation of a Labor Management Committee to address workplace issues; the establishment of rights and legal protections for source confidentiality; and the creation of editorial integrity protocols and protections against advertiser and third-party interests.

“This tentative agreement is the direct result of our Daily News Union members’ perseverance and determination to fight for the worth of their work covering this great city of ours,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “Winning this contract means our journalists will be able to continue to report on the news that New Yorkers need to stay aware, safe and informed. New York needs its Hometown Paper and its Hometown Journalists more than ever.” 

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

The 21,000 members of the University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA (UPTE-CWA) and the University of California (UC) reached a contract agreement and averted a strike planned for Nov. 17 and 18 that was to be joined by more than 60,000 supporters from two additional UC unions, AFSCME Local 3299 and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC). UPTE represents research and technical professionals across the UC system. The two sides had been bargaining for the last 17 months, and had been in mediation for three weeks.

Details of the tentative contract, which union members still must ratify, are forthcoming. Prior to the agreement UPTE was seeking significant pay increases, predictable and progressive caps on health care premium increases, and improvements in work-life balance, career progression and job security.

“The finalized agreement reflects the university’s enduring commitment and UPTE’s advocacy for our employees who play critical roles across the University,” a joint statement from UC and UPTE read. “Both parties acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative spirit that allowed us to move forward and reach a resolution that supports our valuable employees and the University of California’s mission of excellence.”

“Our tentative agreement is a hard-won victory for 21,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals across UC—and one that will benefit millions of UC patients and students, as well as people across the world who benefit from UC’s cutting-edge research,” said Dan Russell, UPTE president and chief negotiator. “We continue to stand with AFSCME and CNA members as they fight and strike for a similar agreement for their members.”