Massillon organized in 1943 with the American Newspaper Guild as Local 176. The unit covered about 35 employees in the newsroom, advertising, circulation and maintenance departments.

 

The Independent began publishing in July 1863 and remained locally owned until 1928 when it was purchased by C.L. Knight. In 1937, Knight’s son, John S. Knight, sold The Inde to Mo Annenberg, who owned Triangle Publications. In 1944, Earl J. Jones Enterprises purchased the business. The company’s name changed to Massillon Publishing Co. in 1964, then to Massillon Newspapers Inc. in 1977, when Ingersoll Group bought The Evening Independent.

 

Local 176's members merged with Cleveland-based Local One in 1969.

 

In 1977 a five-month strike shuttered the Evening Independent. Guild members kept Massillon area residents informed by publishing a weekly strike newspaper, The Massillon News, from May through August. 

Beginning in 1987, Guild members endured lengthy contract talks that led to an attempt by management to decertify the unit. Members fought the company's campaign, which involved national anti-union organizations, to maintain representation and secure a contract. The National Labor Relations Board twice ruled that the company's campaign violated labor laws. 

 

In 2001, Journal Register sold the Independent to Copley Newspapers, which owned The Canton Repository. Copley management began the process of combining advertising, circulation and business operations. In 2007, Copley sold the Independent to GateHouse, which eventually became Gannett. The Guild contract covering members working for the Independent was merged with the contract covering Repository employees in 2014. Since then the units have negotiated together.