Unionized workers at Noisy Creek, Inc which represents The Stranger in Seattle, The Portland Mercury, EverOut and Bold Type Tickets have ratified a 3 year agreement with 3% and 2.5% yearly raises, step raises based on your years of service, and great language on the use of Artificial Intelligence.
Importantly, this agreement set the tone for all purchases Noisy Creek makes in the future due to the Seattle Labor Council’s (MLK Labor) Labor Harmony Agreement negotiated with Noisy Creek. In that agreement, all newly purchased entities of Noisy Creek’s will have a “card check” or be given voluntary recognition with a first contract guaranteed in 6 months of certification. Noisy Creek recently purchased the already union Chicago Reader and they will begin bargaining a new CBA in January which they can base off the incredible wins of the PNW workers.
Contract highlights:
- 3% Yearly Raises for Washington based employees
- 2.5% Yearly Raises for Oregon based employees
- $70,000 – $80,500 minimums depending on your years of service
- Protections around Artificial Intelligence
- Union Security aka Guild Shop
- Progressive Discipline
- Just Cause Protections
“We formed our union almost two years ago to secure better livelihoods and workplace protections for all the workers who make The Stranger, Portland Mercury, EverOut, and Bold Type Tickets happen,” said Taylor Griggs, a reporter at the Portland Mercury.
“Since then, our company has seen a lot of changes, and the union has helped employees navigate them. Last fall, the union helped workers secure unprecedented pay raises. Now, with the completion of our first collective bargaining agreement, Noisy Union members have an industry-leading contract, complete with protections against AI, increased vacation time, a fair disciplinary structure, annual CoLAs and minimum salary tiers, and much more. The bargaining team hopes our contract will help set a precedent for other workers in the media industry, who all deserve to be treated and compensated fairly for all the work they do. We are grateful to the unit members who offered their input and help along the way.”
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We are the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, TNG-CWA Local #37082. For almost 90 years, our journalists and other media workers have been fighting for fair wages and benefits, sustainable jobs and the resources they need to help tell the story of our communities. Today, we represent more than 350 workers in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho, united in the belief that strong jobs preserve strong journalism in the Northwest.