We joined many of you in welcoming the PG’s new owners. Then celebrations got cut short. Folks in Baltimore were told our staff is getting halved. The CEO was dodgy on the record re: unions.
Will you sign our pledge marking the need for robust staff & a union PG?
actionnetwork.org/forms/pledge...
I took a lunch break with my @marshallprojectguild.org colleagues in support of @propublicaguild.org's strike. No comrades in Durham, so I took my lunch at the house where Pauli Murray grew up. She would support the guild's action! @paulimurraycenter.bsky.social
I genuinely do not understand management's refusal to agree to basic protections, like that they won't replace us with AI. It's baffling. Makes no sense. We're on strike to show management how serious we are about this, and how eager we are to get a contract done!
Two ProPublica employees holding up blue and yellow signs that read "ProPublica workers on strike for a fair contract." One employee also holds a white and red megaphone to his mouth.
ProPublica workers on strike, standing on the street and holding up signs.
A line of ProPublica workers chanting and holding up blue and yellow signs that read: ProPublica workers on strike for a fair contract.
Eight ProPublica workers can be seen in the background of this photo, holding up strike signs. In the foreground is a cluster of orange and yellow flowers surrounded by a black gate.
Our DC members are out in full force!
Today we’re striking to demand a fair contract, including layoff protections, AI guardrails, fair pay and a clear disciplinary process.
Join us: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...
The crumbs of a very subpar ham and cheese croissant on an IKEA wood cutting board for some reason. While you're here — ProPublica's management should actually engage in good faith with the its unit. They're better than this.
Taking a lunch break with my @marshallprojectguild.org
co-workers in support of @propublicaguild.org strike! (This was a bad ham and cheese croissant but I already ate it, oops)
Three people sitting around a wooden table with beverages, smiling at the camera
Two white women wearing TMP Guild t-shirts smiling at the camera
TMP Guild members taking a collective lunch hour out of the office in support of @propublicaguild.org's strike today!
Pile of compost at the bottom of a black garbage bin.
Real slop not AI slop!
I dropped off my compost while taking a break with my @marshallprojectguild.org co-workers in support of @propublicaguild.org's strike.
Today we're taking a collective lunch break in solidarity with @propublicaguild.org's strike for a fair contract.
You can support ProPublica Guild by not clicking on or sharing PP stories today, and telling management why you're honoring the digital picket line: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Our members are on the picket line today demanding a fair contract now! We want a fair disciplinary process, layoff protections & guardrails on artificial intelligence. Support us by donating to our strike fund: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...
Good morning! All day today my colleagues and I will be on STRIKE. You can help us send a message! Please do not visit ProPublica's website and tell management to give us a fair contract so we can get back to work: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Our unit members are ON STRIKE and not participating in this event. DON’T CROSS THE PICKET LINE!
New: 150 unionized ProPublica workers are on strike TODAY over AI, layoff protections, wages, and more.
They're asking readers to not visit ProPublica or engage with content on other platforms. It's the first work stoppage of its kind at the newsroom.
www.theverge.com/news/908401/...
We had hoped management would work with us to reach a deal on Monday, but they refused to compromise with our union.
So today I’m on strike with my colleagues trying to fight for a fair disciplinary process, equal pay & protection against AI related layoffs. Stand with us by not sharing or reading
We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8
We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today.
Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Dear Robin Sparkman and ProPublica board of directors: Our world needs more investigative journalism in the public interest. Continuing ProPublica’s mission will require a strong, fair collective bargaining agreement that uplifts journalistic integrity. And that means ProPublica needs to have contractual language prohibiting any potential for artificial intelligence to replace journalists and other workers who make ProPublica the important publication it is today. As the rare union leader with a background in journalism and computer programming, I fully support the need to leverage technology to improve our ability to tell stories. And there are many recent examples of how AI can be helpful in reporting, when used ethically. For example, ProPublica journalists published the “Deleting DEI” story, which chronicled how nonprofit organizations have removed language connected to diversity, equity and inclusion. Reporters used AI to help find DEI related scrubs from nonprofit statements. In “Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies,” reporters used AI to help categorize job types into groups. And then reporters manually checked them all. ProPublica journalists, represented by the Guild, have shown how AI can be used ethically, and they deserve newsroom leadership who agrees with its ethical use. Unfortunately, your leadership team is refusing common sense provisions at the bargaining table that would protect both jobs as well as the integrity of the journalism they produce. And now, 92% of ProPublica’s workers have voted to walk off the job in part due to the company’s stance on AI, in addition to its position on job security, layoff protections and wages. ProPublica management should follow the example set by nonprofit news organizations such as Grist, the Associated Press and others. For example, CalMatters has agreed to: • protect jobs from being eliminated because of AI • protect the salaries of employees from being reduced because of AI
• listen to workers’ input when evaluating the use of AI and get the consent of employees before handing off material to a third-party company for training AI systems • a strong editorial integrity clause, ensuring that AI is clearly labeled and is not published unless several requirements are met • obtain the consent of employees before impersonating someone using AI CalMatters agreed to these protections more than a year ago. Why would ProPublica management refuse similar protections? Time is quickly running out for your leadership team to make a decision that will determine whether the public can trust ProPublica on this important issue. I sincerely hope you decide to stand with the journalists and other workers who make ProPublica the investigative powerhouse that it has become. Jon Schleuss he/him President The NewsGuild - Communications Workers of America (TNG-CWA) cc: Paul Sagan Claire Bernard Tomiko Brown-Nagin Mark Colodny Steve Daetz Angela Filo Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Anu Khosla Jonathan Klein Carrie Lozano Claire Hoffman Katie McGrath Bobby Monks James M. Stone Charles Whitaker Paul Steiger
1/ Management at @propublica.org is refusing to agree to fair contract language around artificial intelligence usage, so @newsguild.org President Jon Schleuss wrote to them today to urge them to get on the right side of history.
www.propublicaguild.org/updates/news...
“We’re ready to walk out if management doesn't come back and substantively address the major demands we have.”
Listen to ProPublica Guild Secretary @jeffernsthausen.bsky.social’s interview on @wbai.org (starting at 34:30):
wbai.org/archive/prog...
We’re thrilled to share that the VTDigger Guild has reached a deal with our management on an updated contract. The agreement we’ve built together will make VTDigger a better place to work—and only strengthen the journalism our members produce every day and that our readers across the state rely on.
We are asking all our @propublicaguild.org supporters to send a letter to @propublica.org President Robin Sparkman. Let her know: It's time for a fair contract NOW actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
As a @propublica.org alum, I urge its leadership to talk seriously with staffers about guardrails around the use of AI in the newsroom. This seems like a solvable issue.
Solidarity with my former colleagues @propublicaguild.org
“We need guardrails against AI right now.” Our unit is ready to strike as we fight for a fair contract that includes job security, AI protections and fair wages. To help our members make ends meet, donate to our strike fund: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...
Video credit: Ernie Zahn
Yesterday, 92% of us voted YES (w/ 99% participation) to authorize a strike if @propublica.org management refuses to compromise on core issues.
We need a fair contract that will protect the in-depth investigative reporting that our readers expect.
Support us: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...
A graphic reads “92% of participating ProPublica Guild members voted YES to authorize our bargaining committee to call for a strike.” The “92%” is very large. A ProPublica Guild logo is under the text.
1/ Today, we overwhelmingly voted to authorize a STRIKE as we fight for a fair contract with @propublica.org.
A man with a megaphone speaks among workers holding protest signs that read "ProPublica Workers Deserve Fair Pay" standing next to Scabby the inflatable rat.
A grid of people on a zoom call with virtual backgrounds that read "ProPublica Workers Deserve Fair Pay" and "ProPublica Workers ❤️ a Fair Contract."
A group of workers pose for a photo together holding protest signs, in the shade of a tree on a warm sunny day.
ICYMI: We took to the sidewalks (and screens) across the country recently to practice picketing.
We’re ready to fight for a fair contract and remind management that WE are ProPublica.
Join us in our fight. Donate to our strike fund, and read our latest here: www.propublicaguild.org/updates/prac...
A crowd of people with signs that read "ProPublica Workers: READY TO STRIKE" AND "PROTECT DEMOCRACY: PROTECT PROPUBLICA'S WORKERS"
A woman stands with a raise fist and a sign
A person stands with a megaphone and a sign that reads "ProPublica Workers Deserve Fair Pay"
We’re ready to strike! Our members are walking out of @propublica.org’s offices today to practice picketing and show we are serious about winning a fair contract. Support us by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
We are so proud of our @propublicaguild.org members -- 80% of the unit has signed onto a pledge to do whatever it takes -- including going on strike - to win a fair contract. @propublica.org it's time to do the right thing and agree to a fair contract NOW!
Our comrades at @propublicaguild.org are ready to strike — and will likely lose paychecks for the duration of the work stoppage.
Contribute here to help support their work stoppage — funds raised will go directly to ProPublica workers who can't afford to miss a day’s pay.
We at the @postguild.bsky.social are raising money for the hundreds of journalists the Post just laid off. This goes to the people who are hurting, not the Post. Or if you'd rather, go subscribe to an independent journalist. Support is hugely appreciated.
www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...
1/ READY TO STRIKE: More than 80% of our members signed a pledge saying we are prepared to strike unless @propublica.org agrees to a fair contract.
www.propublicaguild.org/updates/the-...
We're officially fundraising for laid-off Vox workers. Please share and donate if you can!
www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
We stand in solidarity with our unionized colleagues of @postguild.bsky.social as they call on Jeff Bezos and @washingtonpost.com management to halt the cuts that would drain their newsroom. #savethepost
bsky.app/profile/post...
