Maine Trust for Local News Workers Launch Union Expansion Campaign

Workers at the Maine Trust for Local News, the state's largest network of newspapers, have launched a "One Big Union" campaign to expand union protections to nearly 50 additional employees across various publications including the Sun Journal, Times Record, and several weekly papers. Currently, about 160 workers are represented by unions such as the News Guild of Maine and the Communication Workers of America, but many employees still face significant pay disparities and lack collective bargaining protections, leaving them vulnerable to layoffs and job insecurity. The expansion effort aims to merge existing unions and bring all workers under one contract to ensure equal pay, respect, and job security across the company. The workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking voluntary recognition of the expanded union, and organized a rally to highlight their demands. Union leaders and workers cited rising costs of living, pay inequities, and the need for sustainable local journalism as key reasons for the campaign. The Maine Trust, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Local News, has yet to respond to the union's expansion demands.