• by Ray Schultz , March 3, 2024

The Marshall Project, a nonprofit newsroom focused on the U.S. criminal justice system, is about to be unionized.  

The employees announced late last week that they are forming a union, with 85% approving.  

The resulting union, the Marshall Project Guild, will represent around 50 workers, both on the editorial and business sides, as part of the News Guild of New York, CWA Local 31003. 

“Working collectively is ingrained in the culture here at The Marshall Project, so a union makes perfect sense for us as a growing staff,” says Katie Park, developer and data journalist.  

Park adds, “It’s a way to keep fostering this supportive work environment and make sure everyone’s voice is heard as our organization evolves.” 

The union, seeking to protect employees against the existential threats facing the news industry, hopes to achieve positive working conditions, consistent expectations, fair compensation, and due process for all employees. 

The Marshall Project, founded in 2014 and which has two Pulitzer Prizes along with numerous other awards, plans to accept the union. 

“The Marshall Project has a longstanding commitment to a fair, equitable and inclusive workplace, with generous benefits,” says a statement from Carroll Bogert, president of The Marshall Project, according to The Washington Post. “Once the details are worked out, we plan to recognize the union.” 

“The Marshall Project now has a union,” says Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York. “It’s up to management to honor their workers and voluntarily recognize this union. We welcome them into the NewsGuild of New York and look forward to working on their first contract.” 

The Marshall Project is named after the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, possibly “the most pro-labor justice on the Supreme Court,” says Joe Neff, a senior investigative reporter at The Marshall Project, according to the Post.