The staff at The Maui News continues to deliver award-winning coverage of Maui County and its people despite the team going without a raise for nearly a decade. During that span, the staff and its unions have, in fact, agreed to givebacks to help the company through economic challenges.

The daily newspaper's workforce has been slashed by two-thirds in recent years, severely under what is sustainable to produce the newspaper. Every current employee is expected to do more with less, including working with outdated computers and programs. They are also expected to fill multiple roles. Though stretched thin, The Maui News staff won 17 Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Excellence in Journalism awards this year.

Current proposals by Ogden Newspapers and the union-busting attorneys they have hired from the Mainland would allow them to slash working hours, a move that would dramatically reduce coverage and cut employee pay by 20 to 25%.

Supporters of The Maui News know the dedicated staff's hard work is what makes it the community's newspaper of record. Workers’ commitment — in the newsroom, advertising and circulation — keeps our community informed and up to date.

I sign this petition to express my support for The Maui News staff. Each employee deserves good-faith negotiating by the company and a fair contract, and Maui County deserves a strong local journalism. The company must invest in the newspaper.