E&P reports that Guild leaders are aiming for a union representation vote within six months, or sooner, for newsroom employees of MediaNews papers in the East Bay. Two months after MediaNews Group withdrew recognition of the Newspaper Guild at six of its newspapers, including The Oakland Tribune. The Guild wants to bring back the union at those papers and then organize the traditionally non-union Contra Costa Times.

Publisher John Armstrong said the campaign to reinstate is not a surprise, but believes a union is not needed. “The pay levels, benefits and working conditions at Contra Costa newspapers were superior to the conditions at ANG newspapers who were subject to collective bargaining. If it goes to a vote, we’ll have to make our case.”

The Guild has set up a Web site to make its case, www.onebigbang.org.