Morning Call editorial staff votes overwhelmingly to unionize with the NewsGuild-CWA

On Tuesday, March 19, 72 percent of editorial staff at the Allentown Morning Call voted in favor of unionizing.

The Morning Call Guild can now begin the productive work of negotiating with Tribune Publishing for a fair contract. The Morning Call staff is the latest in a series of newsrooms to organize with the NewsGuild-CWA in recent months. Tribune Publishing, who has previously granted recognition to to similar groups voluntarily, refused to do so in Allentown, and forced this National Labor Relations Board election.

The newly unionized newsroom consists of 47 editorial employees. The Morning Call Guild will join the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, TNG/CWA Local 38010.

“I'm excited and proud to be part of the overwhelming majority of Morning Call journalists who voted 'yes,’” said reporter Peter Hall. “I believe today's result will be positive for the newsroom employees, the newspaper and the community it serves.”

“It’s been inspiring and empowering to see the outpouring of support from colleagues near and far,” photographer April Gamiz said. “I'd like to thank all of our backers for sharing this historic moment with The Morning Call Guild.”

A super-majority of editorial employees had signed a petition seeking voluntary union recognition, which was delivered to local management Feb. 25.

“We made our intent to unionize clear with our petition and backed it up with our vote,” said reporter Tom Shortell. “We look forward to working with Tribune to continue producing excellent journalism in the Lehigh Valley while working to secure fairer pay, stronger benefits and greater stability.”

The full union membership will meet soon to elect leaders and discuss the coming negotiations.