Journalists at LancasterOnline and WITF, an NPR affiliate, have voted to form a union with The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia Local 38010 by a margin of 39-10.
Bargaining will soon begin on the first contract, the union says.
Plans to unionize started after management laid off 10% of staff one month after the Steinman Family gifted LancasterOnline to WITF.
Previously, CEO Ron Hetrick assured the staff that there would be no workforce reductions for five years, the union claims.
“In central Pennsylvania, courage played out this week, with LancasterOnline employees standing up for themselves and overwhelmingly saying ‘yes’ to unionizing and recognizing their strength in numbers,” says Diane Mastrull, president of The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia.
Mastrull adds, “They did this amid hostile attempts by the company to discourage and intimidate and I could not be prouder.”
The union also represents staff the Philadelphia Inquirer, Spotlight PA and other news organizations.
advertisement
advertisement