The Indy News Guild is the collective voice for good journalism and good journalists at The Indianapolis Star. Our jobs are more complicated than ever before. Most of us perform the tasks that once belonged to three or four people.

For journalism to be done well, there needs to be a livelihood in it, a decent career, where we as journalists can earn a decent living, grow our skills and serve the community.

The Guild is here to be that counterbalance, to speak truth to power — and remind the people in the executive offices that journalism is about serving readers and challenging our community to be better. We’re here to remind them that to get that job done it takes talented people who are paid decent wages, have affordable health care and who work in an environment that’s sustainable and enjoyable.

Proud CWA chapter

Indianapolis News Guild is a member in good standing of The Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America and is a bargaining unit comprising Local No. 34070. We’re also members of the AFL-CIO and the Central Indiana Labor Council.

The Guild represents around 40 full-time employees of the Indianapolis Star. Local 34070 also represents a bargaining unit of around 35 full-time employees of the Louisville Courier Journal in Kentucky, which became certified with the NLRB in late 2022. It also includes XX full-time employees of the Evansville Courier & Press, which was certified in February 2024.

Guild history

The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild was chartered in 1936 and has had a contract since 1937. The original contract was three pages long and only covered the newsroom, including jobs like librarian, copy messenger, copy editor, reporter and photographer.

The Guild at one time covered many employees who worked for the  Indianapolis Star, including display advertising, classified advertising,  circulation, business office, and promotion department. In the late 1970s, several departments decertified from the Guild, leaving just the newsroom and building services.

In 1951, an arbitration option was added to our contract. That means if there was a dispute that wasn’t settled after a grievance was filed, the Guild could take the dispute to an impartial arbitrator, rather than having to consider going on strike. In 1994, a no-strike / no lockout clause was added to the contract, meaning that as long as there is a contract or a contract is being bargained, there will be no strikes and no lockouts. Our Guild has never gone on strike or been locked out.

The Guild contract has always covered wages and hours. Our current  contract also covers outside activity, seniority, benefits, vacation and personal leave days.