While the staff at The Daily Herald in Everett continue to deliver award-winning coverage, its workers cannot afford to live in the community they cover.

For months, the NewsGuild-CWA members at The Daily Herald have been fighting for a fair first contract with the paper's parent companies, Sound Publishing and Black Press. It has been three months since the union made its first wage proposal, and the company has refused to counter. At a recent session, company representatives said only that they did not consider the union's first proposal, which reflects the cost of living in the community, to be serious.

This derision will not stand. Just like how our newsroom staff expects those in power to be accountable to the public, the company needs to take accountability for the ways its poor wages have negatively affected local journalism. The Herald’s reporters, photographers, designers and readers deserve better.

We are asking readers and anyone who supports local journalism to sign this petition in support of The Daily Herald staff. To ensure strong local journalism continues in Snohomish County, every employee needs a fair contract. If the company does not invest in this newspaper, the issues that have plagued the newsroom for years, including never ending turnover, will continue.

Herald readers value local journalism. It’s about time the company shows it does too.