Los Angeles Newspaper Guild (LANG) Collection, 1931-2000

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Summary

Creators:
Los Angeles Newspaper Guild
Abstract:
The Los Angeles Newspaper Guild (LANG) was chartered in 1937 as a local chapter of the American Newspaper Guild. They organized and represented newspaper employees throughout Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, and San Bernardino counties in grievances and collective bargaining negotiations. In 2001, they merged with the Communications Workers of America. The collection documents these and other activities of the union via extensive administrative records, correspondence, legal documents, and published materials. The collection is particularly rich in its coverage of the 1967-1973 Los Angeles Herald-Examiner strike.
Extent:
91.02 linear feet and 13.4 Gigabytes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Los Angeles Newspaper Guild (LANG) Collection documents the history, development, and accomplishments of the union. The materials span the greater part of the organization's existence, dating from 1932 to 2000. The majority of the collection consists of LANG administrative records, correspondence, legal documents, and a variety of publications. A significant portion of the collection deals specifically with union organizing activities and collective bargaining. The collection is particularly strong in its coverage of the 1967-1973 Los Angeles Herald-Examiner strike. It has been divided into three major series: American Newspaper Guild Files (1931-1973), Administrative Files (1936-2000), and Union Activity Files (1942-1996).

Series I, American Newspaper Guild Files, documents the national Guild's work both before and after the incorporation of the Los Angeles local chapter. The series includes information on arbitration, financial information, collective bargaining, union membership, and the 1939 Hearst Strike, and includes bulletins, correspondence, and contracts. The series is filed chronologically.

Series II, Administrative Files, consists of the operating files of the union. Prior to 1957, both administrative and union activity materials were filed together, and that organization has been left intact. For collective bargaining after 1957, see Series III, subseries B. The series consists of five subseries: Early Files (1936-1998), Office Files (1957-2000), Bulletins (1971-1985), Published Contracts (1947-1997), and Media (1988-1998). The Early Files document the LANG's efforts at unionizing newspaper employees as well as their efforts on behalf of these employees, including election material, collective bargaining, and strikes and lockouts. Files include correspondence, newsletters, clippings, and meeting minutes. These materials are filed chronologically. The Office Files documents the LANG's operations, and include financial records, insurance information, meeting agendas and minutes, and materials documenting associated unions. The subseries is filed chronologically. The Bulletins consist of official LANG Bulletins and are filed chronologically. The Published Contracts consist of published pamphlets documenting by-laws, contract agreements, convention proceedings, and retirement plans. These pamphlets are filed chronologically. Media documents convention proceedings, organizing, and strikes. This subseries consists of audio and video and is filed alphabetically by title.

Series III, Union Activity Files, documents LANG's work organizing newspaper employees throughout the Greater Los Angeles region, and their efforts at collective bargaining on their behalf. It has been divided into two subseries: Organizing Files (1949-1996) and Negotiation and Collective Bargaining Files (1942-1992). The Organizing Files include documentation of LANG's work chartering chapters, and includes correspondence, petitions, and election materials. It is filed chronologically. The Negotiation and Collective Bargaining Files include documentation of LANG's work on behalf of employees at numerous newspapers and newspaper publishers in Greater Los Angeles, including the Herald-Examiner (which includes the Evening Herald & Express, the Examiner), Hollywood Citizen-News, and the Orange County Evening News (previously the Garden Grove Daily News)among others. It includes correspondence, flyers, election materials, contract, meeting minutes, photographs, and clippings. The series includes extensive coverage of the 1967-1973 Herald-Examiner strike and other contract negotiation attempts. Materials are filed in sub-subseries according to newspaper title and chronologically within each. For collective bargaining prior to 1957, see Series II, subseries A.

Biographical / historical:

On December 15, 1933 the founders of the American Newspaper Guild (ANG) held their founding convention, at which they became part of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). As such, union membership was primarily limited to those employed in editorial departments. The Los Angeles Newspaper Guild (LANG) was officially chartered by the ANG in January 1937. That same year the AFL expelled the ANG, and it joined the Committee for Industrial Organizations (CIO). As a member of the CIO the ANG could accept members from outside editorial departments, so any newspaper employee could join.

The LANG unionized and organized employees at several newspapers throughout Southern California, in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. LANG represented its members in discrimination and other grievances, as well as in collective bargaining negotiations. The LANG was an active union, participating in numerous contract negotiations and strikes with area newspapers, including the Hollywood Citizen-News, the Van Nuys News and Green Sheet, and the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.

The LANG participated in three strikes with employees of the Herald-Examiner, in 1939, 1946, and 1967-1973. The last included the importation of strikebreakers who eventually joined LANG themselves. The Herald-Examiner went out of business in 1989 causing approximately 1,200 LANG members to lose their jobs. Internal financial difficulties for the LANG in the 1990s contributed to further affiliation changes and in 2001 the union membership voted to merge with the Communication Workers of America, Local 9400.

Acquisition information:
Los Angeles Newspaper Guild, 1982.
Arrangement:

Series I: American Newspaper Guild, 1931-1973

Series II: Administrative Files, 1936-2000

Subseries A: Early Files, 1936-1998

Subseries B: Office Files, 1957-2000

Subseries C: Bulletins, 1971-1985

Subseries D: Published Contracts, 1948-1997

Subseries E: Media, 1988-1998

Series III: Union Activities, 1942-1996

Subseries A: Organizing Files, 1949-1996

Subseries B: Negotiations and Collective Bargaining Files, 1942-1992

Subseries 1: City News Service, 1966-1967

Subseries 2: Free Press (LA), 1973

Subseries 3: Garden Grove, 1957-1969

Subseries 4: Herald Examiner, 1942-1979

Subseries 5: Hillbro Newspaper Printing Co., 1959-1969

Subseries 6: Hollywood Citizen-News, 1957-1973

Subseries 7: Huntington Park Daily Signal, 1956-1976

Subseries 8: Long Beach Independent, 1957-1958

Subseries 9: News Advertiser, 1963-1968

Subseries 10: Orange County Evening News, 1965-1976

Subseries 11: Rogers & McDonald Publishing, Inc., 1967

Subseries 12: San Pedro News Pilot, 1950-1971

Subseries 13: Santa Barbara News Press, 1990-1992

Subseries 14: South Bay Daily Breeze, 1965-1971

Subseries 15: Triangle, 1949-1982

Subseries 16: Ventura Star Free Press, 1966

Subseries 17: Wire Service Guild, 1964-1965

Accruals:

2001

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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