Timesland Guild protests for a fair wage scale at The Roanoke Times

ROANOKE, VA — The unionized employees of The Roanoke Times newsroom staged a lunch-hour protest for fair wage scale Wednesday.

About 40 protesters carried signs and chanted at Henrietta Lacks-Freedom parks in downtown Roanoke across from The Roanoke Times building.

“We are fighting for a fair pay scale that acknowledges years of experience,” said Michael Belcher, chief steward for Timesland News Guild.

 “We have successfully fought to raise the starting salary at The Roanoke Times, but our more experienced workers are suffering.

“We have some workers with 10, 20 and even 30 years of experience who are making about what new employees make.   

“Add in that some of the biggest pay disparities fall on women, people of color and workers 50 years old and older and a disturbing trend seems to be forming.  

“The company’s stance of 2% raises amid years of high inflation doesn’t address this injustice,” Belcher said.

Protestors also said they were fighting for fair mileage reimbursement. The Roanoke Times parent company, Lee Enterprises pays only 34 cents/ mile vs the IRS recommended rate of 67 cents/mile.

The local unit resumes negotiations with Lee Enterprises April 15 and 16. The Timesland News Guild is part the Washington-Baltimore News Guild Local 32035 of the News Guild-Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC.

Members of the newsroom were joined by members of the public, demonstrators from Western Virginia Labor Federation, and local politicians Democrat Liam J. Watson of Blacksburg Town Council, and Democratic candidate Phazon Nash, who is running for Roanoke City Council.