Introduction
Staff at the Center for Public Integrity have unionized with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (CWA Local 32035).
The new bargaining unit will consist of 20 members, including employees working in the news and development departments.
Staff began discussing unionization in August, with efforts picking up steam in September and October. After securing signed authorization cards from a majority of eligible staff members, the Guild presented Center management with a letter requesting voluntary recognition on Nov. 8.
Management opted to recognize the new unit and entered into the agreement with the Guild on Nov. 16. A neutral arbitrator confirmed majority support for the union on Tuesday.
The Center for Public Integrity — established in 1989 — is one of the nation’s oldest, nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organizations and has twice won the Pulitzer Prize.
“We recognize the right of the staff to unionize and opted to agree to voluntary recognition,” said Center CEO John Dunbar. “We look forward to negotiations on a contract, knowing that management and staff have the same goal — production of great investigative reporting.”
“We’re pleased management has voluntarily recognized our union and are looking forward to working together to build a fairer and more inclusive Center,” said Joe Yerardi, a data reporter and member of the organizing committee.
Staff members believe unionizing will ensure the Center continues to produce award-winning investigative journalism by bringing more transparency to the organization and contributing to a more equitable and diverse workplace.
Dunbar said the Center has long recognized those issues as top priorities and that management looks forward to working with the union to make even more progress.
Other news organizations represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild include The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, ForeignPolicy.com, The American Prospect and Bloomberg-BNA.
Media contacts:
John Dunbar, CEO: 202-481-1240
Staff organizing committee: publicintegrityunion@gmail.com
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