Dow union seeks to recruit newswire journalists

The in-house union that represents journalists at The Wall Street Journal is attempting to increase its clout by recruiting more reporters that work for Dow Jones Newswires in Jersey City, according to a story in the New York Post.

Reporter Janet Whitman wrote, “The union, which represents nearly 2,000 employees from The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and other Dow Jones publications, has in the past made halfhearted attempts to sign up employees at the waterfront office complex.

“But this time it expects to win their support, which could give the union significantly more clout as it sits down with Dow Jones management, led by CEO Richard Zannino, later this month to hammer out a new contract.

“‘One of the luxuries Dow Jones has had in dealing with the union is that, in the back of their minds, they’ve always known they have a nonunion labor force,’ union head Steve Yount told The Post.

“‘If negotiations ever got really difficult, they know they’ve got a backstop to undercut any effort by the union.’

“The Jersey City office, headquarters of Dow Jones Newswires, is home to more than 230 workers, the largest group at Dow Jones not represented by a union – and plenty of journalists to help fill a newspaper in the event of a strike.

“To entice reporters there to join, the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees is waiving union dues for the first year of membership.”

Read more here.