The new unit officers include co-chairs David Chanen and Graydon Royce, vice chairs at large Eric Hanson and Chris Serres, vice chair for communication Jenna Ross, vice chair for mobilization Mike Kaszuba, and chief steward Pam Miller. All except Serres ran for election without opposition.

The leadership begins their term as the Newspaper Guild unit "faces perhaps its most pivotal year ever," Miller wrote on www.stribguild.com.

The unit is about to enter negotiations for a new contract — the first contract to be negotiated since new ownership took over the Star Tribune late in 2006.

The Newspaper Guild\'s Star Tribune unit represents about 300 members, who work primarily in the newsroom.

To prepare for bargaining a new contract, the unit surveyed members for their concerns. More than 100 members returned the survey.

"I don\'t think there\'s any secret that we\'re concerned about the amount of freelance material that\'s used in the paper," said Royce, newly-elected as unit co-chair.

With newsroom cuts of the past year, "there are fewer people producing stories, photos, and graphics and that has increased the pressure on freelance," Royce said.

The increased use of freelancers raises jurisdictional issues, he said, such as who can edit. Last year, Guild members withdrew bylines to protest use of freelance editors. Print newspaper ad sales are declining while the public is turning to online news sources. Royce said both the Newspaper Guild and the company face the question, "how do we reshape this industry, this particular newspaper?"

Contract negotiations are set to begin by May 1. The contract expires July 31.

For updates and more information, visit www.stribguild.com.

Reprinted from the Minneapolis Labor Review.