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Gawker becomes first digital media company to unionize Gawker becomes first digital media company to unionize
(about 5 hours later)
The editorial staff of Gawker has voted to become unionized, in the first move of its kind among digital-only media.The editorial staff of Gawker has voted to become unionized, in the first move of its kind among digital-only media.
“We are unionized,” Gawker editorial staff announced shortly after 8am on Thursday, one day after 75% of eligible staff voted in favor of joining the union Writers Guild of America, East.“We are unionized,” Gawker editorial staff announced shortly after 8am on Thursday, one day after 75% of eligible staff voted in favor of joining the union Writers Guild of America, East.
Since a majority of the eligible staff at Gawker voted in favor of the union, Gawker now has to work with the Writers Guild of America to negotiate its staff’s contracts.Since a majority of the eligible staff at Gawker voted in favor of the union, Gawker now has to work with the Writers Guild of America to negotiate its staff’s contracts.
“Yesterday’s votes were cast electronically and tallied by VoteNet, an independent online voting system. Out of 118 eligible voters, 107 cast votes,” the staff announced in a post on Gawker. “The results are: Yes: 80 votes – 75%. No: 27 votes – 25%.”“Yesterday’s votes were cast electronically and tallied by VoteNet, an independent online voting system. Out of 118 eligible voters, 107 cast votes,” the staff announced in a post on Gawker. “The results are: Yes: 80 votes – 75%. No: 27 votes – 25%.”
The staff at Gawker has been open about its efforts to unionize. On 16 April, Hamilton Nolan wrote a post titled Why We’ve Decided to Organize on Gawker, explaining that while it might have been easier to have the conversation internally, “Gawker Media is, for better or worse, a company with a rich history of gossip”.The staff at Gawker has been open about its efforts to unionize. On 16 April, Hamilton Nolan wrote a post titled Why We’ve Decided to Organize on Gawker, explaining that while it might have been easier to have the conversation internally, “Gawker Media is, for better or worse, a company with a rich history of gossip”.
The post came a day after the Fight for $15 minimum-wage campaign organized the largest protest by low-wage workers in US history. One of the protesters’ demands was the right to form a union.The post came a day after the Fight for $15 minimum-wage campaign organized the largest protest by low-wage workers in US history. One of the protesters’ demands was the right to form a union.
“There was a time when much of the media was unionized. As journalism has moved online and flourished over the past 20 years or so, union workplaces have become much more rare in our industry,” Nolan pointed out in his post.“There was a time when much of the media was unionized. As journalism has moved online and flourished over the past 20 years or so, union workplaces have become much more rare in our industry,” Nolan pointed out in his post.
“Gawker Media would be the first major online media company to organize. That is something that everyone at this company – employees, management, and owners alike – could be proud of. There are plenty of companies in this industry whose workers could desperately use the help of a union. If we can show that it’s possible, I hope that a positive precedent will be set.”“Gawker Media would be the first major online media company to organize. That is something that everyone at this company – employees, management, and owners alike – could be proud of. There are plenty of companies in this industry whose workers could desperately use the help of a union. If we can show that it’s possible, I hope that a positive precedent will be set.”
That’s exactly what the staff did, according to Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East.That’s exactly what the staff did, according to Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East.
“As Gawker’s writers have demonstrated organizing in digital media is a real option, not an abstraction. People who do this work really can come together for their own common good,” said Peterson. “As Gawker’s writers have demonstrated, organizing in digital media is a real option, not an abstraction. People who do this work really can come together for their own common good,” said Peterson.
Nick Denton, the founder of Gawker, previously said that he was “intensely relaxed” about the possibility of a union at Gawker.Nick Denton, the founder of Gawker, previously said that he was “intensely relaxed” about the possibility of a union at Gawker.
Peterson said: “I think that Gawker’s management is smarter than a lot of employers in that sense,” he added. “They realize we’re not the enemy [and] having smart, dedicated employees is good for the business.”Peterson said: “I think that Gawker’s management is smarter than a lot of employers in that sense,” he added. “They realize we’re not the enemy [and] having smart, dedicated employees is good for the business.”
Other digital media companies including Buzzfeed and Vice may follow suit. Some members of the Daily Beast are unionized, a legacy from the time when the site was owned by Newsweek magazine.Other digital media companies including Buzzfeed and Vice may follow suit. Some members of the Daily Beast are unionized, a legacy from the time when the site was owned by Newsweek magazine.
This news is welcomed by others in the labor industry, who hope it might make unions more popular again. Steven Greenhouse, a former New York Times labor reporter and contributor to the Guardian, wrote in a Los Angeles Times piece that if Gawker voted in favor of the union, “it will show that unions, which have focused in recent years on organizing low-wage workers, can also attract hip, highly educated workers, many of them Ivy League graduates”.This news is welcomed by others in the labor industry, who hope it might make unions more popular again. Steven Greenhouse, a former New York Times labor reporter and contributor to the Guardian, wrote in a Los Angeles Times piece that if Gawker voted in favor of the union, “it will show that unions, which have focused in recent years on organizing low-wage workers, can also attract hip, highly educated workers, many of them Ivy League graduates”.
In 2014, the number of union members in the US reached its lowest point in 40 years. Just 11.1% of wage and salary workers were members of unions, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics – equivalent to 14.6 million workers. In 1983, union membership rate was 20.1%, with 17.7 million union workers.In 2014, the number of union members in the US reached its lowest point in 40 years. Just 11.1% of wage and salary workers were members of unions, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics – equivalent to 14.6 million workers. In 1983, union membership rate was 20.1%, with 17.7 million union workers.
“Whether it’s from a factory floor or the iPhone of an enterprising young journalist, every worker deserves a voice and an opportunity to be heard,” Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, said in a statement.“Whether it’s from a factory floor or the iPhone of an enterprising young journalist, every worker deserves a voice and an opportunity to be heard,” Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, said in a statement.
At the same time that Gawker held the historic vote to be the first digital media company to unionize, Philadelphia’s two largest newspapers and their companion websites voted to authorize strike preparation in light of a recent contract dispute.At the same time that Gawker held the historic vote to be the first digital media company to unionize, Philadelphia’s two largest newspapers and their companion websites voted to authorize strike preparation in light of a recent contract dispute.
On Wednesday night, members of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia voted to allow their union’s executive board to plan a strike by the 445 employees from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com. All three news outlets are operated by the Philadelphia Media Network, which said that publication will continue in the event of a strike.On Wednesday night, members of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia voted to allow their union’s executive board to plan a strike by the 445 employees from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com. All three news outlets are operated by the Philadelphia Media Network, which said that publication will continue in the event of a strike.
There are two contracts currently at play in Philadelphia: the contract that covers the employees at the newspapers – The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News – which expired on 23 May, but was extended to 27 June. Then there is the contract that covers employees at Philly.com. There are two contracts currently at play in Philadelphia: the contract that covers the employees at the newspapers – the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News – which expired on 23 May, but was extended to 27 June. Then there is the contract that covers employees at Philly.com.
As newspapers and digital media organizations attempt to figure out how to monetize all the eyeballs their online content receives, their employees just want to be treated fairly, according to Bill Ross, executive director of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010.As newspapers and digital media organizations attempt to figure out how to monetize all the eyeballs their online content receives, their employees just want to be treated fairly, according to Bill Ross, executive director of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010.
“We just want a fair contract. Our members deserve one from new billionaire owner,” Ross told Poynter.“We just want a fair contract. Our members deserve one from new billionaire owner,” Ross told Poynter.
Gawker employees are not done yet, either. There is still a contract to negotiate.Gawker employees are not done yet, either. There is still a contract to negotiate.
“The next steps: determining what we want to bargain for; forming a bargaining committee; and negotiating a contract,” the staff said on Thursday.“The next steps: determining what we want to bargain for; forming a bargaining committee; and negotiating a contract,” the staff said on Thursday.
“We are eager for Gawker’s editorial staff to join our creative community, and we are eager to negotiate a fair contract,” said Peterson.“We are eager for Gawker’s editorial staff to join our creative community, and we are eager to negotiate a fair contract,” said Peterson.