To save Seattle journalism, support workers
Seattle Times CEO Frank Blethen, President Alan Fisco and Executive Editor Michele Matassa Flores
Despite the challenges faced by the newspaper industry, The Seattle Times remains a powerful example of a local newspaper that provides vital information and holds those in power accountable. Through protests, a pandemic and political strife, members of the Seattle Times union have worked tirelessly to preserve this community institution.
But for far too long, the company has neglected the needs of these workers, driving them out with low pay and poor benefits. We need your support to change that as we bargain our next contract. The journalism in this region depends on it.
We need:
> Pay raises that keep up with inflation: At least half of the 170 members of the Seattle Times Union are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing expenses. Raises for Seattle Times employees — from reporters and photographers to circulation and advertising workers — have failed to keep up.
> True parental leave: Employees at the The Times can accrue unused sick time for several years which is set aside in an "illness bank" to support employees in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. But the company's current parental leave policy relies on employees using that same resource in order to take paid leave beyond the minimal parental benefits offered by Washington state. Employees face an impossible choice: use accrued leave to start a family and lose their medical safety net? Or save it for when the worst happens?
> Equal rights for all employees: The Seattle Times has celebrated its ability to hire new reporters thanks to an influx of community grant funding. We agree! Seattle needs more journalists. But because of outdated contract language, these employees don’t have full union rights, and that disconnect has undermined the rights of all workers in the newsroom.
These conditions are pushing media workers out. Rampant turnover reduces the integrity of our journalism, leaves us with a less diverse workforce and leads to gaps in our coverage. It is unsustainable.
Sign your name below to join us in calling on The Seattle Times to recognize that quality journalism demands quality working conditions.
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To:
Seattle Times CEO Frank Blethen, President Alan Fisco and Executive Editor Michele Matassa Flores
From:
[Your Name]
We sign this petition in solidarity with workers at The Seattle Times. Local journalism plays a key role in serving our communities and protecting our democracy, and we are proud to have such a strong local newspaper in Seattle.
The Seattle Times has the opportunity to show it is truly dedicated to journalism by investing in its workers with living wages and strong benefits. The continued success of this newspaper depends on it.
We ask the company to commit to:
- Pay raises that keep up with inflation: At least half of the 170 members of the Seattle Times Union are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing expenses. Raises for Seattle Times employees — from reporters and photographers to circulation and advertising workers — have failed to keep up.
- True parental leave: Employees at the The Times can accrue sick leave for several years, setting time aside in an "illness bank" to support employees in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. But the company's current parental leave policy relies on employees dipping into that same resource to ensure they have paid leave beyond the minimal benefits required by Washington state. Employees face an impossible choice: use accrued leave to start a family? Or save it for when the worst happens?
- Equal rights for all employees: The Seattle Times has celebrated its ability to hire new reporters thanks to an influx of community grant funding. We agree! Seattle needs more journalists. But because of outdated contract language, these employees don’t have full union rights, and that disconnect has undermined the rights of all workers in the newsroom.
These conditions are pushing media workers out. Rampant turnover reduces the integrity of the paper, leaves our community with a less diverse workforce of journalists and leads to gaps in coverage. It is unsustainable, and we call on The Seattle Times to demonstrate it is committed to its workers.
Thank you.