The Guardian US staff voted unanimously Wednesday to unionize under the News Media Guild, adding to the growing number of online media companies joining organized labor, the Huffington Post reported.
“The Guardian has a long tradition of supporting union effort,” according to a statement from the Guardian US chapter of the News Media Guild to The Huffington Post. “The move by Guardian US editorial staff to seek collective representation is consistent with the strong history of working in strong partnership with unions in the UK and Australia. The vote was unanimous and we look forward [to working] constructively with Guardian management moving forward.”
The Guardian US was launched in 2011. The outlet won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2013 for its stories on the National Security Agency that were based on documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Gawker Media was the first digital outlet to vote to unionize in early June. In true Gawker fashion, there was vigorous and public inter-staff debate. The news site Salon also voted unanimously to unionize on July 2. Management has yet to recognize Salon.
FIrst GOOGLE fortells theTHE ANTi-POPe Francis I anti-christ and NOW this? ANothER SIGN of the endTIMEs?
Have they been laid off yet?
That’s usually the next step, either that or the company relocates to Vietnam.
(yes, I know the Guardian’s politics and where they’re from)
The parent company is from one of those strange countries where negotiating equitably with your employees is not a reason to get expelled from the country club. Go figure.
Here’s hoping management recognizes them ASAP. Also, have fun writing that collective bargaining agreement!
(Sigh. In the middle of preparation for negotiations, and the collective bargaining agreement is always on my mind right now…)
Well done!