Progressive watchdog group Media Matters for America lost the fight to keep its workers from unionizing Monday, the Huffington Post reports.
Staff had been agitating moving to unionize since March, with Media Matters executives “fighting it every step of the way,” according to a Service Employees International Union statement. (RELATED: Liberal Watchdog Media Matters Finally Allows Vote On Unionization)
They filed a petition to the National Labor Relations board in April after executives rejected an attempt to unionize through a card check — an open method of unionizing that avoids secret-ballot elections.
“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,” said a pro-union representative at the time.
While an exact vote count is not yet known, an SEIU Local 500 spokesman said a clear majority voted in favor of unionization.
Speaking with The Daily Caller, a source close to Media Matters had this to say: “It appears the old Mark Twain adage is apropo: rumors of Media Matters’ union-busting ways have been greatly exaggerated. Look, these kids listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch Fox News all day — screw union wages and benefits, they deserve combat pay.”
A Media Matters spokeswoman did not return TheDC’s request for comment.