Recognize the BDN Union

Richard Warren and Bangor Publishing Co. leadership

The Bangor Daily News is Maine’s most-visited digital news website, and one of its oldest newspapers, operating as a family-owned business since 1889. We choose to work here because we value an independent press, and because we are committed to reporting the truth about local governments, schools and institutions, and to telling the stories of Mainers.

An overwhelming majority of eligible staff have signed cards declaring their desire to become a unit of the News Guild of Maine. With a fair contract, we can keep staffing levels sufficient so that we can fulfill our mission, and reduce destabilizing staff turnover. We want a seat at the table for future decisions that affect all employees at Bangor Publishing Co.

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BDN Union

To: Richard Warren and Bangor Publishing Co. leadership
From: [Your Name]

Dear Richard Warren and Bangor Publishing Co. leadership,

As current and former subscribers, clients, staff members and community supporters of the Bangor Daily News and its weekly companion papers across Maine, we write to you today to encourage you in the strongest possible terms to voluntarily recognize the Bangor Daily News Union (BDNU).

We know members of the BDNU have voted with a supermajority of eligible staff to form a union with The News Guild of Maine, Local 31128. It is exciting to see the Bangor Daily News staff so invested in the future of the paper – their willingness to join together to make it better is inspiring. We hope you feel the same way and know that supporting the union will lead to a stronger future for the company, your workers, your subscribers and clients.

Bangor Publishing Co. has never wavered in its commitment to bringing the best journalism to Maine. For 133 years, the BDN and our weekly regional papers have covered everything from local and national politics and statewide issues to high school graduations and the bake sale at the local rotary. Your staff have continued to produce top-quality journalism despite the ever-changing nature of the newspaper industry and the new challenges that seem to arise on a yearly basis. The BDN Union will make sure that this proud tradition continues by helping to create a more sustainable, equitable and productive workplace.

Your staff say in their union Mission Statement that they see this moment as “an opportunity to make our company a better place to work for everyone, regardless of what desk or publication they work on, their level of experience or education, or how long they’ve been here.” We could not support that goal more wholeheartedly.

We look forward to the news that you have voluntarily recognized the BDNU, and that you are committed to creating a better newspaper for the communities you serve.

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