We the undersigned employees are proud to come together as a union.
Our goal is to strengthen this pillar of American television news by creating a better, healthier and more transparent workplace as the content creators behind one of the most trusted news institutions in the country. Our beloved anchors have long described the NewsHour’s brand of journalism as civil yet vigorous – a source of “light, not heat.” In that same tradition, we approach this process of forming a union with the hope of creating the best workplace in public media.
As the NewsHour embarks on an exciting period of transformation, we seek an active role in this shared future, enabling us as journalists to continue to create high quality work in a supportive environment for all. There are issues fueling burnout and turnover, especially among staff members of color, that must be addressed if the NewsHour is to continue to grow and thrive.
Just as we are dedicated to telling impactful stories, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable future for the NewsHour. We sincerely hope to begin this process in the spirit of collaboration to create a stronger organization, together.
We believe that you and WETA leadership are committed to listening to staff and taking action, guided by our shared values, to nurture the best possible work environment where everyone is welcomed, appreciated and respected. As a demonstrable commitment to these values we would like you to voluntarily recognize our union. We know that with a seat at the table as a union with management, we can all work together to ensure every NewsHour employee feels valued, empowered and safe where they work. This is especially important for those employees who may come from communities which have historically endured systemic oppression.
Thus, we have chosen to form a union with SAG-AFTRA, with the purpose of collectively negotiating our wages, hours and working conditions.
We therefore request that you voluntarily recognize this petition as demonstration that SAG-AFTRA represents a majority of employees in a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, and that you meet and confer with us in good faith to begin the collective-bargaining process.