ThinkProgress Unionizes with the Writers Guild of America, East

New York, NY and Washington, DC (September 24, 2015) – ThinkProgress, the progressive digital news outlet housed at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, has agreed to voluntarily recognize the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) as the collective bargaining representative of its editorial staff.

ThinkProgress editorial staff unanimously supported the unionization effort. In a letter to management informing them of their intention to organize with the WGAE, staff noted that both ThinkProgress and the Center For American Progress Action Fund have “long publicized the many benefits of unionization for individual workers, the middle and working class, and the economy as a whole.”

The letter continued, “Here at ThinkProgress, we believe having a union will help us protect and elevate the good conditions we currently enjoy in our workplace, both for ourselves and for all who come after us. This security will ensure we continue to create the cutting-edge, high-quality, and editorially independent journalism ThinkProgress is known for long into the future. Organizing drives at Gawker, Salon, Vice, The Guardian and Al Jazeera have inspired us, because we know their fight for a voice in the workplace is our fight too. We’re proud to be part of this moment and this movement in our industry and hope our participation helps digital media workers everywhere.”

Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East, added, “The men and women who write, edit and produce stories at ThinkProgress join hundreds of others in digital media who recognize the power of collective bargaining. They are committed to working together to build sustainable careers crafting stories that are honest and insightful. We welcome ThinkProgress to the Writers Guild of America, East.”

Judd Legum, Editor in Chief of ThinkProgress, said, “We support and recognize the move by ThinkProgress staffers to join the Writers Guild of America, East. Our shared goal is to make ThinkProgress’ exceptional team of writers and editors even stronger and continue our cutting-edge work covering the issues that matter most.”

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On social media, please use the hashtag #ThinkUnion

For additional information, please visit digitalwritersunion.org/thinkprogress and wgaeast.org.

For interviews, please contact Jason Gordon at jgordon@wgaeast.org or 212-767-7809.

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