The union will represent Hearst Magazines staffers across 24 brands, including Elle.
'Strong Majority' of Hearst Magazines Staffers Vote to Form One of the Media Industry's Biggest Unions
"This is how people who craft content ensure that their voices are heard and their workplace needs are met."
The Writers Guild of America, East announced Monday that a "strong majority" of Hearst Magazines' 500 editorial, video, design, photo, and social staff from 24 print and digital brands voted in favor of forming a union.
"We must keep unions like [WGAE] strong as corporate greed in media continues to threaten jobs."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
HuffPost noted that "the Hearst Magazines Media Unit will be one of the biggest labor unions in media."
In a letter shared by the labor union Monday, the WGAE's Hearst Magazines Organizing Committee vowed to address diversity, transparency, compensation, and editorial standards.
"Hearst is one of the largest editorial employers in the industry, and media's rapidly changing landscape means it's more important than ever for us to have a say in the conditions of our employment," the letter read. "We care deeply about the work we do at Hearst and its reputation within the media industry, and we believe we deserve a seat at the table and a say in how we are compensated and treated in the workplace."
"In forming a union, we'll be joining our colleagues across the industry at Vox Media, NY Magazine, Slate and countless others," the letter continued. "It has become standard for companies to recognize employee unions through a fair voluntary recognition process--like a card check--including at peer companies like Conde Nast, other magazines like Fast Company, and large legacy news organizations like CBS, and we expect Hearst Magazines to do the same."
The union will represent staffers at Autoweek, Best Products, Bicycling, Car & Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Delish, Elle, Elle Decor, Esquire, Fashion hub, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, Men's Health, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Road & Track, Runner's World, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, Woman's Day, and Women's Health.
"The issues we want to address as a union are universal and aren't subject to brand by brand," Olivia Fleming, a Harper's Bazaar staffer and one of the union's organizers, told The Daily Beast. "Around overarching themes of transparency, diversity, having a seat at the table. I think those are issues that extend from Road & Track to Cosmo to Elle to Bazaar to Men's Health."
Another union organizer, Elle culture editor Julie Kosin, said, "We're excited to be a part of the labor movement among our peers, and most importantly create a fair and equitable workplace for the future of this industry."
White House hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime labor rights advocate and critic of the corporate media, congratulated Hearst staffers on Twitter:
WGAE executive director Lowell Peterson said in a statement Monday that "the staff at Hearst has demonstrated today that there is always power in a union."
"Hearst's union drive comes as the media industry continues to consolidate, as companies become platform-agnostic and offer content on paper, over the airwaves, and online," said Peterson. "We are proud and pleased to build the movement for collective bargaining for the professional storytellers at Hearst. Unionizing, winning recognition, bargaining contracts, this is how people who craft content ensure that their voices are heard and their workplace needs are met."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The Writers Guild of America, East announced Monday that a "strong majority" of Hearst Magazines' 500 editorial, video, design, photo, and social staff from 24 print and digital brands voted in favor of forming a union.
"We must keep unions like [WGAE] strong as corporate greed in media continues to threaten jobs."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
HuffPost noted that "the Hearst Magazines Media Unit will be one of the biggest labor unions in media."
In a letter shared by the labor union Monday, the WGAE's Hearst Magazines Organizing Committee vowed to address diversity, transparency, compensation, and editorial standards.
"Hearst is one of the largest editorial employers in the industry, and media's rapidly changing landscape means it's more important than ever for us to have a say in the conditions of our employment," the letter read. "We care deeply about the work we do at Hearst and its reputation within the media industry, and we believe we deserve a seat at the table and a say in how we are compensated and treated in the workplace."
"In forming a union, we'll be joining our colleagues across the industry at Vox Media, NY Magazine, Slate and countless others," the letter continued. "It has become standard for companies to recognize employee unions through a fair voluntary recognition process--like a card check--including at peer companies like Conde Nast, other magazines like Fast Company, and large legacy news organizations like CBS, and we expect Hearst Magazines to do the same."
The union will represent staffers at Autoweek, Best Products, Bicycling, Car & Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Delish, Elle, Elle Decor, Esquire, Fashion hub, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, Men's Health, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Road & Track, Runner's World, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, Woman's Day, and Women's Health.
"The issues we want to address as a union are universal and aren't subject to brand by brand," Olivia Fleming, a Harper's Bazaar staffer and one of the union's organizers, told The Daily Beast. "Around overarching themes of transparency, diversity, having a seat at the table. I think those are issues that extend from Road & Track to Cosmo to Elle to Bazaar to Men's Health."
Another union organizer, Elle culture editor Julie Kosin, said, "We're excited to be a part of the labor movement among our peers, and most importantly create a fair and equitable workplace for the future of this industry."
White House hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime labor rights advocate and critic of the corporate media, congratulated Hearst staffers on Twitter:
WGAE executive director Lowell Peterson said in a statement Monday that "the staff at Hearst has demonstrated today that there is always power in a union."
"Hearst's union drive comes as the media industry continues to consolidate, as companies become platform-agnostic and offer content on paper, over the airwaves, and online," said Peterson. "We are proud and pleased to build the movement for collective bargaining for the professional storytellers at Hearst. Unionizing, winning recognition, bargaining contracts, this is how people who craft content ensure that their voices are heard and their workplace needs are met."
The Writers Guild of America, East announced Monday that a "strong majority" of Hearst Magazines' 500 editorial, video, design, photo, and social staff from 24 print and digital brands voted in favor of forming a union.
"We must keep unions like [WGAE] strong as corporate greed in media continues to threaten jobs."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
HuffPost noted that "the Hearst Magazines Media Unit will be one of the biggest labor unions in media."
In a letter shared by the labor union Monday, the WGAE's Hearst Magazines Organizing Committee vowed to address diversity, transparency, compensation, and editorial standards.
"Hearst is one of the largest editorial employers in the industry, and media's rapidly changing landscape means it's more important than ever for us to have a say in the conditions of our employment," the letter read. "We care deeply about the work we do at Hearst and its reputation within the media industry, and we believe we deserve a seat at the table and a say in how we are compensated and treated in the workplace."
"In forming a union, we'll be joining our colleagues across the industry at Vox Media, NY Magazine, Slate and countless others," the letter continued. "It has become standard for companies to recognize employee unions through a fair voluntary recognition process--like a card check--including at peer companies like Conde Nast, other magazines like Fast Company, and large legacy news organizations like CBS, and we expect Hearst Magazines to do the same."
The union will represent staffers at Autoweek, Best Products, Bicycling, Car & Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Delish, Elle, Elle Decor, Esquire, Fashion hub, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, Men's Health, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Road & Track, Runner's World, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, Woman's Day, and Women's Health.
"The issues we want to address as a union are universal and aren't subject to brand by brand," Olivia Fleming, a Harper's Bazaar staffer and one of the union's organizers, told The Daily Beast. "Around overarching themes of transparency, diversity, having a seat at the table. I think those are issues that extend from Road & Track to Cosmo to Elle to Bazaar to Men's Health."
Another union organizer, Elle culture editor Julie Kosin, said, "We're excited to be a part of the labor movement among our peers, and most importantly create a fair and equitable workplace for the future of this industry."
White House hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime labor rights advocate and critic of the corporate media, congratulated Hearst staffers on Twitter:
WGAE executive director Lowell Peterson said in a statement Monday that "the staff at Hearst has demonstrated today that there is always power in a union."
"Hearst's union drive comes as the media industry continues to consolidate, as companies become platform-agnostic and offer content on paper, over the airwaves, and online," said Peterson. "We are proud and pleased to build the movement for collective bargaining for the professional storytellers at Hearst. Unionizing, winning recognition, bargaining contracts, this is how people who craft content ensure that their voices are heard and their workplace needs are met."