John Hill

As brutal as the last four years have been, when the economy recovers over the next few years, the evolutionary changes we’ve all been talking about are sure to come. And fast.

We need a union, and Region One vice president, poised to respond to those developments, and turn them to our members’ advantage.

We take the pictures, write the words, sell the ads, deliver the papers.

We are the creativity of the industry. If it’s going to be re-imagined, we’re the oneswho will do it.

Too often these days, when two or three of us get together, we turn it into a wake. We have to lose that attitude. We have to be engaged and ready to act when the business emerges from this depression. When you look at the crucial issues, alternative ownership, crisis bargaining, mergers, Region One has been there, done that.

In Portland, they helped bring in new ownership and the Guild has seats on the board of directors. In Philadelphia they overcame simultaneous bankruptcies at their biggest employers. In Providence, we’ve done two local mergers.

We need to hear more about these success stories, and as Region One vice president, I’ll tell them. I’ll call you before and after your board meetings, to hear what you’re doing and let you know what other locals are trying. We have been more successful than we realize and we have to startdoing a better job of sharing what works and what doesn’t with each other.

My goal for my first year is to attend a membership or executive board meeting in every Region One local. You’ll know I care because I will be there.

As the only local president in the race, I understand the issues. I’ve negotiated mergers, organized mobilization drives and negotiated contracts. That gives me extra insight into the issues and a understanding of how we can work better together.

We’re already answering the news industry’s challenges in Region One, we just don’t realize it. I would be honored if you chose me to help us keep up that innovative work.

AGE: 54

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts degree in History, University of Connecticut, 1979.

JOB TITLE, EMPLOYER and LENGTH OF CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Reporter, Providence (RI) Journal since 1989.

PRIOR MEDIA EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: Manchester (Conn.) Journal-Inquirer, 1979-1985; Orlando (Fla) Sentinel, 1986-1989.

CURRENT GUILD POSITION: President, Providence Newspaper Guild, 2003-present.

PRIOR GUILD POSITION(s): Secretary, Providence Newspaper Guild, 1998-2003.

GUILD-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Chaired contract bargaining committee, organized Providence Unit’s mobilization committee, organized and captained leafleting and informational picketing actions, worked on negotiations for two local merger agreements.

Carl Younger

Divide to rule, as it used to be called, is not new. Superpowers have played groups against one another in order to control their lands and territories. Divide-and-conquer strategy was used by the Romans when they took Britain, when the British Empire took India, and when the Anglo-Normans took Ireland. Divide-and-conquer strategy is a staple political strategy and currently is  being used against working people.

 In 1983, total union membership was at 20.1%. Statistics for 2010 show total union membership down from 12.3% in 2009, to a historic low of 11.9%. The term “big labor,” used to denigrate working people, no longer seems to apply. Has our lack of unity become the vehicle of our defeat?

White collar against blue collar, young versus old, Republican against Democrat and yes, even  race is still used as part of a go-to strategy to divide us. How many times have we seen management play one union against another during negotiations? How many times has management played two departments in the same local against each other?

We no longer can afford to allow our minor differences to be exploited by management. If we do, it is our fault, not theirs, and our numbers will continue to plummet in a death spiral.

We need the power of an informed, cohesive membership and a supportive community. The time is well overdue to start, or to accelerate organizing for inclusion. It is imperative that we form alliances with all communities of labor. We need all workers to unite behind  our common goals of obtaining a fair share of the wealth we produce and a future for our children. We must look at the big picture and the prize of prosperity for all working people, or we will allow our economic interests to be be destroyed piece by piece, local by local.

As Region One VP, I will continue to work towards creating an inclusive, educated membership. I ask for your consideration when you vote in May. Divided, we are weak. United, we have a chance.

AGE: 59

EDUCATION: Umass Boston (Economics); Attended Harvard Extension School; Harvard Trade Union class of 2008; Minority Leadership Institute; Union and diversity training, Cornell University.

JOB TITLE, EMPLOYER and LENGTH OF CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Currently Boston Globe outside circulation salesperson. Started at the Globe in 1971.

PRIOR MEDIA EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: Worked in editorial first as a copy boy, then wire room attendant, later become an editorial library researcher. Was later promoted to library associate.

CURRENT GUILD POSITION(s): Boston Newspaper Guild delegate; TNG Chairperson of the Human Rights and Equity committee

PRIOR GUILD POSITION(s): Executive board member for the Boston Newspaper Guild, 2002 to 2010; Guild delegate 1998 to 2002

GUILD-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Created diversity library project to promote inclusion at the Boston Newspaper Guild. Worked with the public school system in Quincy Massachusetts to promote union education for students. Guild Service award winner, 2007