CommonWealth Beacon employees announce a union organizing effort

Employees of CommonWealth Beacon, a digital nonprofit news organization that covers statewide politics and public policy, has announced a union organizing drive, according to a statement that hit my inbox a short time ago. CommonWealth is part of MassINC (the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth), a nonprofit policy organization.

“Every single eligible staff member enthusiastically supports forming a union,” says the statement, adding: “Should management force us to go through a formal National Labor Relations Board election, we are certain the outcome will be unanimous support.”

Disclosure: I’m a member of the CommonWealth editorial advisory board, which was recently reorganized to assist with fundraising ideas. In light of that, I’ll leave this here and go right to the announcement. And of course I’ll add a statement from management should I receive one.

BOSTON — The staff of CommonWealth Beacon is proud to come together as the CommonWealth Beacon Guild, a newsroom union that will join The Providence Newspaper Guild.

By codifying fair and reasonable terms of employment as well as newsroom standards, we will be better-equipped to fulfill our mission of delivering high-quality, in-depth, nonpartisan coverage of policy and civic life in Massachusetts.

Every single eligible staff member enthusiastically supports forming a union. MassINC, the nonprofit organization that publishes CommonWealth Beacon, has not yet granted CommonWealth Beacon Guild voluntary recognition. We are optimistic about receiving recognition in the coming days, which will signal a good-faith effort by management to work together in a collaborative manner.

MassINC made a foundational commitment to support “building ladders to the middle class for all Massachusetts residents.” We call on management to honor that promise by recognizing our seat at the table, something many of our peers at other New England newsrooms have already won.

Should management force us to go through a formal National Labor Relations Board election, we are certain the outcome will be unanimous support.

“To get truly impactful reporting that educates the public and holds power to account, you need.journalists who can develop expertise, build out sourcing, and refine their craft with a sense of stability,” said Chris Lisinski, a senior reporter at CommonWealth who covers Beacon Hill and transportation. “Each one of us cares deeply about our work, and coming together as a union gives us the tools to do the best job possible.”

We are proud to become just the latest data point in a national trend of nonprofit newsrooms unionizing. The industry is better served with journalists who have a say in the decisions of their organizations.

The CommonWealth Beacon Guild will join The Providence Newspaper Guild, part of NewsGuild-CWA. The Providence Newspaper Guild is a growing local, with members in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, that is actively looking to build union power across the Northeast.

“The leadership and membership of the Providence Newspaper Guild are excited to welcome members of the CommonWealth Beacon Guild to our growing union family,” said PNG President Kate Levesque. “It’s good for all involved — both employers and employees — when everyone has a seat at the table and all voices can be heard. We look forward to standing by and helping our newest members in every way possible as they strive to achieve their workplace goals.”