21.266 A Resolution in Support of Workers of the Hampshire Gazette - Certified City of Northampton
MASSACHUSETTS
In the City Council, May 6, 2021
Upon the Recommendation of: Councilor Karen Foster
Councilor Marianne LaBarge
Councilor Rachel Maiore
Councilor Gina-Louise Sciarra
R-21.266 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF WORKERS OF THE HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE
WHEREAS: the Daily Hampshire Gazette has been an institution in our community for nearly
235 years; and
WHEREAS: the Gazette has tirelessly chronicled the triumphs, tragedies and history of the
people of the Connecticut River Valley, keeping the public informed and proving
itself invaluable in exposing injustice in Northampton and beyond; and
WHEREAS: local news is critical to a working democracy, ensuring communities have
accurate information, uplifting marginalized voices, and providing crucial oversight
over local governance; and
WHEREAS: Northampton’s municipal government relies on the Gazette to communicate
issues, events, projects and public notices to the public; and
WHEREAS: the Gazette is made by its workers and this Council appreciates how they have
persevered through a global pandemic, despite losing over half their staff, to keep
the Valley informed of vital information, and in the early stages of the
pandemic making the important decision to provide coronavirus-related news to
our community at no charge to readers; and
WHEREAS: the Gazette’s unionized workers have been in contract negotiations with the
Gazette’s parent company, Newspapers of New England, for nearly two years; and
WHEREAS: the Gazette’s workers deserve protections against the outsourcing of their work
as well as a contract that provides for a fair wage with cost of living increases and
remains intact no matter who owns the newspaper; and