Welcome to the Bakersfield Newspaper Guild, Local 39202

The Bakersfield Newspaper Guild has represented employees at The Bakersfield Californian since 1950. Over the years, the Guild has steadily gained contractual benefits for its members through negotiations. Wages, fringe benefits, job security and working conditions currently enjoyed by present Guild members are far superior to those experienced by individuals prior to the creation of BNG. Pre-Guild conditions briefly related in a story by Vi Hollins reminds us that together, we are successfully united for the improvement of all Guild members.

The Guild negotiated contract is the basic agreement between the Local and the Employer, putting forth guaranteed minimum salary levels, retirement benefits, paid holidays, sick leave, vacation and jury duty, job security provisions, mileage reimbursement, grievance and arbitration procedures, and many, many more benefits. These are not benefits that the company voluntarily offered to its employees — these are benefits that were won only through long and hard bargaining by the Guild.

But there is more to the Guild that just contract negotiations. There is also the daily maintenance of that contract to ensure that your rights are protected and fulfilled. The Guild has fully trained shop stewards, officers and department representatives to fully represent you in grievance procedures and to answer any questions you might have regarding the contract or other benefits provided by the Guild. These individuals work hand in hand with the Guild's law firm, Bennett & Sharpe, to see that any problems that may arise are handled swiftly and fairly. They meet on a regular basis to conduct the day-to-day operations of the Local, coordinating all the behind-the-scenes business that must be conducted for a smooth running, efficient operation.

The expenses of running our Local are paid by our members through monthly dues. The Local uses these funds to pay for legal costs of defending the contract in grievances, arbitrations, etc. Another portion is send to The Newspaper Guild (TNG), an international newspaper union of which we are a chartered member. TNG provides valuable guidance and support to Locals in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including much-needed strike benefits whenever strikes have been necessary to obtain and protect contract benefits.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact any of the shop stewards or officers. You are invited to attend our membership meetings, usually known as Pizza with the Guild. Active support from members has gotten us where we are today. We look forward to our association with you and hope you will take an active interest in the Guild.