Media Matters employees are furious that their bosses are trying to keep them from unionizing.
A union-organizing committee at the liberal group released a statement Monday slamming their employers for “the unexpected and unexplained path our leadership has taken in response to our efforts to unionize,” adding that “the actions of Media Matters executives have placed employees in the impossible position of continuing to produce content espousing pro-labor values for an employer who is challenging our right to unionize.”
The statement, posted on the website of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500, reads:
Media Matters employees often write in defense of organized labor, and our work has demonstrated the virtues of organizing through card-check and the perils of being forced through a protracted NLRB election process. It is fitting, then, that we’ve chosen to unionize and attempt to lead our own lives by the principles we regularly advocate for in our work.
The actions of Media Matters executives have placed employees in the impossible position of continuing to produce content espousing pro-labor values for an employer who is challenging our right to unionize. Not only is management subjecting Media Matters employees to arduous NLRB procedures, the actions of their attorneys indicate Media Matters executives object so tenaciously to our union that they appear willing to prevent employees from ever having the opportunity to vote on the matter.
Many Media Matters employees feel betrayed by the unexpected and unexplained path our leadership has taken in response to our efforts to unionize. Our desire to organize should be not a controversial or surprising turn of events at a progressive organization like Media Matters for America. We continue to hold out hope that our executives will change course in favor of the path the organization has long advocated.
The SEIU is an aggressively liberal union and a strong supporter of President Barack Obama’s agenda. Media Matters was founded by wannabe-Clinton operative David Brock. (RELATED: Media Matters pulled hard for Hillary Clinton in 2008)
The statement was signed by “Media Matters Organizing Committee.” (RELATED: Inside MediaMatters: David Brock’s enemies list)
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