Journalists at Military.com voted unanimously 10-0 to unionize in a balloting that was tallied last Thursday. They will join the Washington-Baltimore News Guild Local 32035 of The NewsGuild-CWA.
The Military.com News Guild filed to form a union in August, seeking voluntary recognition from Monster Worldwide, the corporate owner that recently merged with Career Builder. The unionization effort came after workers at one of Military.com’s main competitors, Military Times, also unionized with The NewsGuild-CWA in June of this year as the Sightline Media Guild.
A few days after announcing their intent to unionize, Monster management denied the workers’ request for voluntary recognition. The National Labor Relations Board then administered the election.
“This recognition and victory are incredibly important to me and to our whole newsroom,” Military.com reporter Konstantin Toropin said.
“I think it not only showcases our solidarity as a team, but I also see it as a hopeful sign that we will be able to continue our journalism — work that is meaningful and important to us and the military community — into the future,” he said.
“As media outlets across the country cut pay, benefits, and positions to appease their corporate owners, we hope this recognition and the forthcoming contract will help keep Military.com from becoming another statistic.”
Now, the union will prepare to bargain with the company to secure their first contract.
“As we look ahead to negotiations, I know I have been emboldened to speak more loudly and passionately about what I want from my employer and what I deserve for my work,” Toropin said.
Steven Beynon, another key member of the bargaining team and a reporter at Military.com, said the company has failed to pay their award-winning news team a fair wage for their aggressive accountability work.
“Rampant inflation has taken a significant toll. Our team has seen no salary adjustments or raises of consequence and pay is far below market value, amid record-breaking readership with a constant barrage of blockbuster reporting,” Beynon said.
“This work has a constant, measurable impact which service members, veterans and their families are entitled to. It must survive. We look forward to working with our corporate leadership to make sure this team stays together, is able to continue its prestigious work and is properly compensated.”
Follow the organizing campaign on Twitter @MilNewsGuild.