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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Tribune's staff is seeking to unionize, citing concerns about journalists who have lost their jobs "at least, in part, over page view quotas largely beyond their control."
In a letter penned Monday to Lauren Gustus, the Tribune's editor and CEO, along with management and the board of directors, employees said they have joined to form a union with the Denver Newspaper Guild and Communications Workers of America.
The letter asks management "to voluntarily recognize our alliance and work with us on a labor contract."
The main point of contention raised by staff throughout the letter is an issue with metrics and page views and how those are tied to performance evaluations.
"Tying professional performance to metrics, over which we have limited influence, results in adverse returns. It fishes for eyeballs beyond Utah's borders, sullies our brand and disincentivizes meaningful journalism that serves our true audience," the letter states. "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."
The letter also says staff members are concerned about outside influence and its autonomy and wants a news organization that pays fairly and retains employees from diverse backgrounds.
It says the employees have filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board, explaining that they will withdraw the request "upon receiving your voluntary recognition of our union no later than Friday, July 19, 2024."
In total, 28 named employees signed the letter, with three more wishing to remain anonymous.
One of those 31 employees is Robert Gehrke, a 20-year veteran with the Tribune. He emphasized that the staff doesn't want the attempt to unionize to be "an adversarial thing."
"The Tribune went through some really rough times in the early 2000s, and we came out of those, and thanks to the leadership that we've got now ... we're in a much better place than we have been as long as I've worked there, to be honest," Gehrke said.
He added that with increased pressures on the journalism industry, the staff wants to make sure its news judgment isn't influenced by page views and that performance is rewarded.
"We just want to be at the table when we're having those discussions with management about how we want to address that," Gehrke said.
We the journalists of the @SLTrib are forming a union to ensure an equitable Salt Lake Tribune newsroom and a sustainable future for the vital local journalism Utahns count on. Read more about our effort at https://t.co/h7qtpdaDAi. #SaltLakeNewsGuild
— Salt Lake News Guild (@SLNewsGuild) July 15, 2024
Especially under the nonprofit model in which the Tribune currently operates, Gehrke said a union makes sense.
"I'm optimistic. I think it could really be beneficial for the paper," Gehrke said. "We're in a nonprofit model where our job is to serve the public, and as a result of that, you know, I think we can strengthen the Tribune and strengthen that mission by partnering together with management in a positive way."
Gustus on Monday responded with a letter of her own, published on the Tribune's website.
"If Tribune employees wish to be represented, we will respect their right to seek collective bargaining. 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," Gustus said. "Essential news and information make Utah a better and more vibrant place to live and work. We have published for 154 years, including four years as a nonprofit. We appreciate and support all of the journalists at the Tribune, and we look forward to all continuing to do this critical work together."
Gehrke said the staff had a meeting with Gustus on Monday, and though he wasn't in attendance, from what he'd been told, Gustus was receptive.
"She's also got to consult with the board of directors. Like any nonprofit, they're going to have a say in how this plays out, so we're willing to give that some time, and hopefully it comes to a good place," he said.
