BOSTON- Former Reuters journalist and president of The NewsGuild of New York Peter Szekely highlighted the pivotal role of union representation and workplace rights for journalists at SPJ New England’s regional conference at Emerson College.
Szekely was joined by SPJ New England board member Stella Lorence, who admitted she had little knowledge of unions until she took her first journalism job after graduation.
“I didn’t realize it was a union job, and then I was kind of like ‘Why am I in this union? What’s happening here?’,” said Lorence. “I connected with Peter through another SPJ event and took those questions to him, and he was really helpful.”
An estimated 16% of employed journalists in the U.S. are affiliated with a union while 41% express the desire to join one if given the opportunity, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.
Szekely addressed experiences with navigating challenges, such as bargaining collectively with employers and understanding one’s rights in the workplace. Following these challenges, his gradual transition into union activism introduced him to the benefits of being represented by a union, such as healthcare, paid overtime and retirement plans.
“I think it’s a matter of risk tolerance,” said Szekely. “But I think you’re always safer to go with a representative.”
With a recent surge in unionization in the news industry, Szekely emphasized the importance of collective action and unionization in addressing the challenges faced by journalism in the digital age, including consolidation of media outlets and impact on the quality of journalism and livelihoods of journalists.
In the journalism industry, union representation is crucial for protecting employees’ rights and ensuring fair salaries and benefits. Szekely said that the ‘just cause’ provision is important in preventing abuse by employers and stressed that being represented by a union provides a floor for decency.
In light of the strike initiated by the Boston University Graduate Workers Union over failure to reach an agreement on a new contract, Szekely said unions advocate for broader social and economic justice issues beyond their immediate concerns.
“I really think that unions are there to bargain for their members, and just that alone is bargaining for good. Because when you bargain for your members and you get improved pay and conditions, that’s a social good.”
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Jewel Silva, Boston University
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