Statement from the Toledo NewsGuild on Block Communications' decision to cease operations of The Blade

The Toledo Blade ended employees' Labor Day weekend with an email Tuesday morning announcing it would close on Dec. 31 if it is not sold by then. Prior to the announcement, the company had asked union employees to vote for a contract proposal that would have cut their severance in half, in addition to greenlighting giving away their work to Al, among other outsourcing. Workers voted that down, 46-25. Union members' objections were largely non-economical. This was reflected in Guild counterproposals. Following the vote, Blade Guild members returned to the bargaining table offering yet another compromise to the Company on Thursday. The Block Communications Inc. board met the next day. 'It's disappointing that Block Communications would rather shutter the paper than work toward an equitable contract. The Company's proposal would have axed seniority, halved severance for its most experienced employees, and allowed the outsourcing of all Guild work. All content at The Blade could be created or edited with Al, with no protections for journalists or requirements to disclose Al usage to its readers,' said Lillian King, Blade features writer and Toledo NewsGuild bargaining chair. 'Signing that contract would have meant signing away our self-respect, and with it, Toledo's mandate for ethical journalism. After nearly 200 years of operating one of the nation's great newspapers, Toledo deserves better,' King said. In its attempts to pressure workers into voting to cut their severance in half, Blade management also made clear that doing so would not necessarily keep the paper open, either. 'Blade workers would welcome new ownership that shares our commitment to local news as well as to the people of Toledo, and would look forward to working with any such prospective buyers,' said Mac Arnold, Blade outdoors writer and Toledo NewsGuild president.