Wayne Cahill, spokesman for the Hawaii Newspaper and Printing Trades Council and administrative officer of the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, said the sale of The Advertiser came as a surprise to him. The council represents seven unions at The Advertiser.

He said the Trades Council will meet on Friday to discuss what to do next.
“As far as exactly what we’re going to do or how we’re going to do it, I think that’s really premature,” Cahill said. “I’m going to try and get as much information as I can.”
Cahill said an asset sale typically is used by companies that want to get out of existing union contracts. He said Advertiser employees will continue to have bargaining rights, but will not be under contract if and when the sale to Black is completed.
He added that he wasn’t sure what was meant by combining the two newspapers and did not know how many employees will be retained jobs if this happens.