Journalists from five daily newspapers across Washington state and Idaho held a one-day strike, alleging unfair labor practices by owner McClatchy Media.

Staff from the Tri-City Herald, as well as the Tacoma News Tribune, Bellingham Herald and Olympian, walked off the job at 7 a.m. May 26, according to a news release. Journalists working at the Idaho Statesman in Boise also walked out. 

The workers’ unions, the Washington and Idaho News Guilds, have been in contract negotiations with McClatchy for a year. Those contract talks have focused on three key demands, according to The Stand, a publication of the Washington State Labor Council: layoff protections, guardrails on artificial intelligence, and raising wages. 

“Skilled reporters are not cheap, and cheap reporters are not skilled,” Herald reporter Eric Rosane said in a statement to the Journal. “But as it stands, our workers are delaying important life events like marriages and starting a family, are falling behind on rent payments, and are delaying necessary medical care because of McClatchy’s starvation wages.” 

McClatchy did not immediately respond to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business’ request for comment. 

The unions have organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support the striking journalists and the day of lost pay. The campaign raised nearly $14,000 of its $16,000 goal by mid-day May 26. 

Hedge fund Chatham Asset Management bought the formerly family-owned McClatchy out of bankruptcy in 2020. The media company currently operates 29 newspapers across the country. 

That’s also the year the Tri-City Herald downsized and left its longtime office in downtown Kennewick for a smaller office at 4253 W. 24th Ave. in Kennewick’s Southridge neighborhood. 

The Herald prints a newspaper twice a week and produces a daily eEdition along with news to its website.