The South Bend Tribune is joined two dozen other newspapers across the nation on Monday in strikes against news publisher, Gannett.

The picketing started at 10 a.m. in front of the Saint Joseph County Courthouse on Main Street before marching to the South Bend Tribune Office on Lafayette Boulevard in a former Studebaker building complex.

According to the South Bend News Guild representative, Gayle Bell, many Tribune workers haven't had a pay raise in ten years and the staff has shrunk to a third of the size it was three years ago when they formed the union.

"We formed a union to make the South Bend Tribune, and our jobs, better. We need a fair contract and leadership that cares about the news that South Bend needs," Bell said.

A spokesperson with the South Bend Tribune said Sunday night:

Despite the anticipated work stoppage, we will not cease delivering trusted news to our loyal readers. Our goal is to preserve journalism and serve our communities across the country as we continue to bargain in good faith to finalize contracts that provide equitable wages and benefits for our valued employees.

The South Bend Tribune was founded by by Alfred B. Miller and Elmer Crockett and started publishing it as a weekly paper in 1872.

In November of 2019 Schurz Communications sold the South Bend Tribune to Gatehouse Media in January. By the end of the year Gatehouse bought the Gannett newspaper chain and the company began using the Gannett name.

Gannett owns more than 200 papers including the South Bend Tribune and the IndyStar making it the largest newspaper company in the United States.

Stay with WSBT 22 on this developing story.