McClatchy Journalists Strike Over Pay and AI Safeguards
Unionized journalists at four McClatchy-owned newspapers in Washington walked off the job Tuesday, demanding higher wages and limits on AI-generated content in news operations. The one-day strike involved 31 workers from The Tacoma News Tribune, Bellingham Herald, Olympian, and Tri-City Herald, along with journalists from the Idaho Statesman in Boise.
The Washington State News Guild and Idaho News Guild have negotiated jointly with McClatchy for a year without reaching agreement. Three issues remain unresolved: wages, AI restrictions, and protection for reporters who invest time in investigative work rather than chasing traffic.
The Wage Gap
The union's latest proposal sets a $53,000 salary floor for existing workers and $50,000 for new hires. McClatchy's current contract offers $48,000 for current employees and $45,000 for new hires. The company has held firm at $52,000 for existing staff.
About one-third of union members currently earn less than $50,000 annually. More than half make $55,000 or less. Most journalists have gone without raises for two or more years.
Kristine Sherred, a food and dining reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune, noted the contradiction in McClatchy's position. "They're telling us at the table that they couldn't possibly pay more," she said, "then turning around and spending money on AI."
Progress on AI, Deadlock on Pay
The union has made headway on AI protections, establishing what Sherred called "common sense" safeguards in the proposed contract. But she cautioned the fight is far from over.
"That's one of the big things. It was brand new to the contract, and we spent quite a bit of time getting there," Sherred said. "But by the same token, we know that it's not a fight that will probably ever end."
The news guilds filed unfair labor practice charges against McClatchy weeks before the strike, accusing the company of bad-faith bargaining and failing to bring decision-makers to negotiations.
Why This Matters for Writers
The McClatchy dispute reflects broader concerns for writers about AI's role in newsrooms. Journalists worry that cost-cutting pressures will accelerate the use of generated content to replace human reporting, particularly on routine assignments.
McClatchy operates 30 daily newspapers across 14 states and owns magazines including Us Weekly and In Touch. The company was acquired by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management after filing for bankruptcy in 2020.
The next scheduled bargaining session is in two weeks. Sherred said the strike was intended to signal the union's resolve before those talks.
"Everybody believes really strongly in local news. That's why they're here," she said. "But people also need to be able to afford to live in the places we cover and see a future in it."
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