CHICAGO—The University of Chicago Press Workers Guild (UCPWG) has won their union election, with a majority of their 134 members voting to become a unit of the Chicago News Guild, TNG-CWA Local 34071, joining the nationwide labor movement for a stronger publishing industry. In a decisive victory, 89% of workers voted in favor of union representation.
Workers held a mixed manual-mail ballot election with the National Labor Relations Board. Onsite and hybrid workers based at the University of Chicago Press’s campus office voted in person on June 9 and 10, while out-of-state, remote, and eligible Chicago Distribution Center workers voted by mail. The formation of this unit marks a significant moment, as it is the first union for most of the departments at the press, following certain Chicago Distribution Center departments that are already organized with the Teamsters.
Workers will soon begin bargaining for the first UCPWG contract.
“I’m immensely proud of my fellow workers for their hard work and dedication to winning this election,” said Meredith Nini, senior promotions manager at the Press. “These election results show that Press workers are bound together with a common mission. We look forward to bargaining for a contract that ensures a sustainable and equitable workplace for years to come.”
“I am so excited to have these workers join the Chicago Guild,” said Chicago News Guild President Owen Schmidt. “This result demonstrates that these workers are ready for real change and a voice in their workplace. I’ve been so impressed by the organizing committee for their persistence and commitment to democracy. They are going to do so many great things at the local level and I stand with them in their fight for pay equity, better working conditions and a more democratic workplace.”
University of Chicago Press workers had their ballots counted one day after workers at Hachette Book Group unionized with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild
Follow the workers on their website, Instagram and Bluesky.
A full mission statement and additional information about the UCP Workers Guild is available here. Information about the Chicago News Guild is available here. The NewsGuild’s members include journalists, interpreters and translators, workers at organizations dedicated to fighting for social justice, and the staff of nonprofit organizations. The NewsGuild is a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents workers in telecommunications and information technology, the airline industry, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, and other fields.
CONTACTS:
To speak with members of the UCP Workers Guild, please contact: ucpworkers@gmail.com
Contacts for the Chicago News Guild:
Esteban Gil, NewsGuild Organizer, esteban@mediaworkers.org
Emily Steelhammer, Staff Representative, esteelhammer@chicagonewsguild.org