St. Louis guild OKs $500,000 for campaign against Lee

The St. Louis Newspaper Guild has voted to use $500,000 for a possible campaign against Lee Enterprises. Negotiations between the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the union have deteriorated, and the union says it fears the company may soon try to declare an impasse.

"We will launch a full-fledged corporate campaign against Lee only if the company terminates our contract and imposes wage and benefit cuts," a recent guild newsletter article said. "This step will be taken only after our members vote to authorize such action."

Details of the $500,000 campaign were not released, but will include social media -- blogs, Twitter and Facebook -- based on the guild story.