Nov. 28, 2018 – Workers at the Center for Public Integrity joined the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035, this week, after management agreed to voluntarily recognize the union. Established in 1989, the Center is one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organizations in the country. Its mission is to reveal abuses of power, corruption and betrayal of the public trust by powerful public and private institutions.
The new bargaining unit of The NewsGuild-CWA will consist of 20 members, including employees in the news and development departments.
Staff began discussing unionization in August, with efforts picking up steam in September and October. After securing signed union authorization cards from a majority of eligible staff members, the Guild presented CPI management with request for voluntary recognition on Nov. 8.
Management agreed to recognize the new unit and entered into an agreement with the Guild on Nov. 16. A neutral arbitrator confirmed majority support for the union on Nov. 27.
“We’re pleased management has voluntarily recognized our union and are looking forward to working together to build a fairer and more inclusive Center,” Joe Yerardi, a data reporter and member of the organizing committee, said in a statement.
“We recognize the right of the staff to unionize and opted to agree to voluntary recognition,” said 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.”
Staff members believe unionizing will ensure CPI 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 local include The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, ForeignPolicy.com, The American Prospect and Bloomberg-BNA.