Staffers at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting shared with management Friday their plans to unionize with The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America.
Nearly 90% of eligible employees signed cards supporting the union, Mohamed Al Elew, a Reveal data reporter, told Current in an email. The Reveal-CIR Guild estimates that about 35 non-management staffers are eligible for the union.
The staffers are seeking voluntary recognition of the union from management.
“We have not received a response from management, but we hope management voluntarily recognizes our union by noon next Wednesday,” Al Elew said. “Once recognized, we look forward to negotiating with management to ensure all eligible members are in-unit.”
CIR CEO Robert Rosenthal has not responded to Current’s request for comment.
The staffers said in a statement that they’re looking for a “seat at the table where decisions that impact staff in every department and level are made. We want to work alongside our leadership and board to establish policies that center diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We want to build a culture that recognizes we have lives and families outside of Reveal and create a space where our colleagues can see themselves working for years to come. We want our individual accomplishments to be rewarded fairly. Above all, we want to be treated with dignity and respect.”
“This union will balance the scales of power within our own organization,” staffers said in the statement.
CIR, which co-produces the public radio show and podcast Reveal, laid off staff last year, citing financial concerns. Employees later sent a letter of no confidence to the board about former CEO Kaizar Campwala. Two executives also resigned from the organization.