Despite any trepidations about how disorganized the process may have been, Gawker employees have voted “overwhelmingly” to join the Writers Guild of America, East.
The numbers speak volumes.
On June 3, 107 out of 118 people cast their votes.
According to a release, in the final count, which was handled by an independent third-party company, 80 people voted “Yes” (75%) with 27 voting “No” (25%), marking a 3 to 1 margin in favor of the union.
In recent weeks, Gawker opted to forgo the National Labor Relations Board and go straight to secret ballot.
“As Gawker’s writers have demonstrated, organizing in digital media is a real option, not an abstraction. People who do this work really can come together for their own common good,” said Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East. “The WGAE, Gawker’s writers, and the company’s management share a commitment to journalistic integrity and creative freedom. We are eager for Gawker’s editorial staff to join our creative community, and we are eager to negotiate a fair contract.”
Should Politico management be worried?
Will the publication’s senior labor reporter Mike Elk ever get to return to the newsroom?
Some of the things he has indicated that he wants: More reasonable working hours for employees and better vacation time. In his previous job at InTheseTimes, he had five weeks vacation. At Politico, it’s two weeks.
Considering he’s trying to achieve what Gawker now has, these are questions they have to be contemplating out of earshot of employees.