Salt Lake Tribune journalists launch campaign to unionize

Salt Lake Tribune staff members announced in a letter Monday their intent to unionize .

The big picture: The Tribune is the latest newsroom in the U.S. to seek unionization, following in the footsteps of major publications like t he Los Angeles Times , the Texas Tribune , and more.

Why it matters: Since the pandemic, a record number of journalists have joined unions over concerns about layoffs, wages, representation among editorial staff, and new leadership.

State of play: In a letter sent to newsroom leaders, the majority of Tribune staffers said tying professional performance to web traffic "disincentivizes meaningful journalism that serves our true audience."

• Unionizing aligns with the 154-year-old newspaper's mission, staffers said.
• In 2019, the Tribune became the country's first legacy newspaper to turn nonprofit.

What they're saying: "We are deeply concerned about journalists who have lost their jobs, at least in part, over page view quotas largely beyond their control, and others who have quit or considered quitting due to burnout," read the letter.

• "We also want a Salt Lake Tribune that values its workers, pays everyone fairly and competitively, attracts top talent, and retains employees from diverse backgrounds."
• Online metrics across newsrooms have played a larger role in editorial coverage as advertising dollars shrink in the digital era.

Zoom in: Unionizing had been discussed among staffers for months and is the "next logical step" to help ensure the Tribune's sustainability, Bethany Baker, a photojournalist and former Report for America corps member who sits on the organizing committee, told Axios.

The other side: "If Tribune employees wish to be represented, we will respect their right to seek collective bargaining," Salt Lake Tribune CEO and executive editor Lauren Gustus said in a statement published to the newsroom's site Monday morning.

• "We will now start the process of working through this request. As this is a legal process, it will require a bit of time but we will respond as quickly as possible."

What we're watching: Staffers have filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board, but say they will withdraw the request if the the Salt Lake News Guild is voluntarily recognized as a union by July 19.

• If a union vote moves forward and the majority of employees approve, labor contract negotiations can start.
• The Salt Lake guild is working with the Denver Newspaper Guild and Communications Workers of America.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show Bethany Baker is a former (not current) Report for America corps member.

Kim Bojórquez is a former Salt Lake Tribune reporter.