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ProPublica Guild
@propublicaguild.org
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We are ProPublica’s union. We are the workers at America’s biggest investigative newsroom.
www.propublicaguild.org
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propublicaguild.org
Earlier this week, we covered @propublica.org’s NYC office in quotes from folks who signed our petition for a fair contract. Our supporters' message is clear: Management needs to meet our demands for a more equitable and transparent workplace now.
A guild member sits at her desk with a poster that reads: From a ProPublica reader: “Just Cause was the first thing Spotlight PA Management and Guild agreed to. Should be a no-brainer for a civic-minded publication like ProPublica.” A guild member sits at a desk with a poster that reads: From a ProPublica reader: “Better, more secure working conditions create better, more impactful journalism.” A poster taped to the ProPublica office closet reads: From a ProPublica reader: “ProPublica workers deserve a contract as powerful as their world-moving investigations.” A poster taped to the ProPublica office wall reads: From a ProPublica reader: “It’s time to protect your most valuable asset, your employees.”
October 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
propublicaguild.org
Many of the signers also eloquently shared why they support our union and our calls for the contract rights we deserve, including Just Cause job security, steward representation throughout the disciplinary process and guardrails around artificial intelligence implementation.
From one of our donors: “I make a monthly donation to ProPublica because I value the work of the ProPublica reporters. They deserve a fair contract” From a ProPublica reader: “They’re asking for reasonable job security protections and a fair contract. How you act and meet this moment has significant implications for the wider world.” From a former ProPublican: “Hi Robin and Steve! I loved working at ProPublica and believed strongly in its mission. I still do. … Please agree to the contract, because it’s the least that hard-working ProPublicans deserve.” From a ProPublica reader: “Do the right thing, ProPublica—we’re watching.”
October 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
propublicaguild.org
Today we delivered to senior management in NY a petition signed by 1,300 ProPublica readers, donors and supporters, as well as fellow journalists at peer newsrooms and former ProPublicans. It’s clear that we have wide support for a fair contract NOW.
ProPublica Guild Secretary Jeff Ernsthausen presents CEO Robin Sparkman with our petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in CEO Robin Sparkman’s office delivering petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in CEO Robin Sparkman’s office delivering petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in the hallway outside CEO Robin Sparkman’s office, delivering petition signatures.
October 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
propublicaguild.org
Support us in our campaign for JUST CAUSE by signing our petition calling on our management to agree to a FAIR CONTRACT NOW 👇
actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
A smiling guild member wearing a ProPublica Guild shirt holds up a pamphlet, Stewards: Instruction Manual.
October 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
propublicaguild.org
A beloved colleague who was terminated last year through management's vague and inconsistent disciplinary process regularly brought apple cake to the office on his birthday. As we did last year, we are marking his absence and calling for job security protections with apple cake in our NYC office.
A smiling guild member wearing a ProPublica Guild shirt uncovers the apple cakes in the ProPublica office. Many guild members wearing ProPublica Guild shirts help themselves to slices of apple cake.
October 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
propublicaguild.org
Will you send our petition for a fair contract to your 5 closest friends?
actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
September 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our members flyered the @ire.org gala to rally support for a fair contract with a transparent disciplinary process and protections against journalists being replaced by AI.

You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Four people on a sidewalk talking People hand out flyers
September 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our members handed out flyers and buttons at the @IRE.org gala tonight! Our message is clear: We deserve a fair contract now! Support us by signing our petition. actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
A flyer reads "Celebrating investigative journalism means giving journalists the protections we deserve." Four people wearing ProPublica Guild buttons and shirts pose for the camera near the entrance to an event. Several people hand out flyers near the entrance to a building. A man in a suit accepts a flyer and shakes hands with one of the people.
September 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
propublicaguild.org
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.

The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.

You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
People wearing union shirts stand outside a red carpet at the entrance of an event as people walk in. People wearing union shirts and stickers smile and hand out ProPublica Guild buttons. Five people sit at a table for an event wearing stickers and buttons supporting the ProPublica Guild. Two people walking into an event wear stickers in support of the ProPublica Guild.
September 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
propublicaguild.org
We took our lunch outside today to demand:

✅ Just Cause that covers everyone
✅ A fair, transparent discipline process
✅ No loopholes for @propublica.org management

We’re united for a contract that protects us all.
August 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
propublicaguild.org
ProPubli-paws love Just Cause 🐾
August 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
propublicaguild.org
Members in Chicago, Seattle, Berkeley and across the country are lunching out to show support for Just Cause protections that apply to every ProPublica Guild worker, every time.
August 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our New York members took their lunch outside today to demand that @propublica.org management agree to a fair discipline and performance evaluation system ✊
August 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
propublicaguild.org
1/4 UPDATE: This week, @propublica.org management informed a third bargaining unit member that they will be placed on a performance improvement plan and denied steward representation at the meeting where it is discussed. Our full statement 👇
May 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM
propublicaguild.org
1/ 🚨 Yesterday, @propublica.org management confirmed that it will again deny steward representation at disciplinary meetings. Our full statement 👇
Thursday, May 8, 2025 ProPublica management continues to deny steward representation Yesterday morning, ProPublica management confirmed that it will deny steward representation to at least two more bargaining unit members it plans to discipline next week through the issuance of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs). This is part of a larger pattern: management has denied steward representation in every meeting where members were placed on PIPs. The plans are the first step in a disciplinary process that often leads to termination. We have raised this issue repeatedly. Last Thursday, more than 70% of our unit sent an open letter to ProPublica leadership, urging them to stop resisting core union protections including steward access, just cause and accountability in the disciplinary process. This week, managers informed two employees that they would be placed on PIPs in meetings next week. Shortly afterward, ProPublica’s general counsel told Guild leadership that stewards will not be allowed in those meetings. ProPublica’s disciplinary process remains opaque, inconsistently applied and shielded from scrutiny. Blocking stewards from these meetings is out of step with our industry and the principles of fairness and accountability the newsroom claims to uphold.
May 8, 2025 at 8:41 PM
propublicaguild.org
Today, we issued a letter — signed by 70% of our unit — to @sengelberg.bsky.social and @robinsparkman.bsky.social asking them to uphold ProPublica’s values of fairness, transparency and accountability at the bargaining table.
Dear Steve and Robin, Since we unionized in 2023, we have worked hard to reach a contract that honors ProPublica's mission. In order to fulfill that vision, our values of fairness, transparency and accountability must apply not only to our reporting but also to our workplace. Our proposals have sought basic contractual rights that align with those values and exist at many other unionized newsrooms. Instead of working with us to codify those rights, you have struck through many of our proposals, called for broad carve outs and delayed discussion of key provisions such as protections against layoffs and overwork. Those tactics are not in line with the ProPublica you say you want to build. In recent months: ● You have refused to allow stewards in performance meetings that could lead to discipline. ● You have resisted attempts to reform our disciplinary system, rejecting a standard approach to just cause and measures to improve transparency and clarity. ● You rejected our proposal that would ensure our jobs will not be replaced by artificial intelligence. What we are seeking is simple: ProPublica management must uphold its values in its own workplace. We expect that your proposals going forward will reflect these shared values. Sincerely, ProPublica Guild
May 1, 2025 at 12:38 PM