AUSTIN, Texas — Dozens of workers at The Texas Tribune want to unionize.
Several employees were spotted holding shirts and signs as they made the announcement Wednesday.
"We made our intention to unionize publicly and asked our CEO and our senior leaders to voluntarily recognize us and get the ball rolling on negotiating for a contract," Texas Tribune reporter Maria Mendez said.
According to Mendez, around 50 employees would be part of the union. They would unionize as the Texas Tribune Guild, part of the Media Guild of the West, and the NewsGuild-CWA.
"Continue the practices that make The Texas Tribune already a good workplace," Mendez said. "Make sure employees have a formal process to voice concerns and have legal protections."
Mendez said the push to unionize also follows nearly a dozen layoffs that happened back in August.
In Central Texas, other workers have recently formed unions, like the Starbucks employees on Nueces and 24th Street, who became the second in Texas to do so back in 2022. Hundreds of employees at Austin's Ascension Seton Medical Center also formed a union in September 2022.
“Make sure we have stability, even if the economy and journalism industry ... Undergo unstable moments," Mendez said. "Make sure our newsroom and organization is strong and employees have the working conditions and resources needed to continue producing journalism that serves Texans."
Mendez said they plan to petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board, allowing them to vote to become a union even if leadership does not voluntarily recognize them.
"A group of colleagues has shared with us their intent to form a Texas Tribune union.
Our response is simple. If Tribune employees want to be represented by a union, we will respect their right to representation.
We will now start the process of working through the details of this request. When completed, we will respect the employees’ decision. I do want everyone involved to understand there is a legal process, and it will require some time. We respect our colleagues’ right to collectively bargain.
Free, trustworthy and reliable news and information make Texas a better, healthier, more vibrant place to live and work. We have provided quality journalism for 14 years and will continue to do this important work together."