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ProPublica Guild
@propublicaguild.org
4.1K followers 130 following 85 posts
We are ProPublica’s union. We are the workers at America’s biggest investigative newsroom.
www.propublicaguild.org
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propublicaguild.org
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
Headline: ProPublica management wants 100% discretion over when and how to use AI Supplementary text: The organization rejected our proposal that ensures staff will not be replaced by AI and requires labeling AI-generated content
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
propublicaguild.org
5/ Here's management's response to our proposal that the company shall follow progressive discipline. It says management reserves the right to combine or skips steps.
The top of the image reads: "Our discipline proposal: The Company shall follow progressive discipline." The bottom of the image reads "ProPublica management's response" and shows the same text as above, but with a red line over the text. Below the struck out line, it reads "ProPublica shall endeavor to follow the principles of progressive discipline ... However, the Company reserves the right to combine or skip steps ..."
December 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
propublicaguild.org
4/ Here's management's response to our proposal that a performance plan should have a set number of working days — a total strikethrough.
The top of the image reads: "Our discipline proposal: A valid Performance Improvement Plan must provide ... at least ninety (90) working days, not including holidays, vacation and leave, before the Company may determine that an employee failed to meet the objectives of a PIP." The bottom of the image reads "ProPublica management's response" and includes the same proposal, but with red lines through all of the text.
December 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
propublicaguild.org
3/ Here's management's response to our proposal that our members should have guild representation in disciplinary meetings — a total strikethrough.
The top of the image reads "Our discipline proposal: Employees shall have the right to have a Guild representative or steward present at any meeting that the employee reasonably believes may lead to discipline or discharge." The bottom of the image reads "ProPublica management's response:" and includes the same proposal, but with red lines striking out all of the text.
December 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM
propublicaguild.org
2/ Here's management's response to our proposal that PIPs must have clear, reasonable and objective criteria — a total strikethrough.
The top half of a graphic reads: "Our discipline proposal: A valid Performance Improvement Plan must provide ... clear, reasonable and objective criteria or metrics by which the employee’s performance will be assessed. " The bottom half of the graphic says "ProPublica Management's Response" and incudes the same proposal text but all of it has a red line through it.
December 15, 2025 at 6:35 PM
propublicaguild.org
1/ After two years of bargaining, @propublica.org management has resisted our proposals to bring transparency and accountability to our disciplinary process.

You can support our union by sharing this post and signing our petition for a fair contract! actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
After two years of bargaining, ProPublica management has resisted our proposals to bring transparency and accountability to our disciplinary process. They will not commit to: 1. Following progressive discipline, 2. Ensuring performance improvement plans (PIPs) have clear objectives, 3. A minimum amount of time an employee has to a complete a PIP, 4. Guild representation in disciplinary meetings
December 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
propublicaguild.org
Read and share our position statement, and sign the NewsGuild-CWA’s petition on AI join us in our fight for #NewsNotSlop!
CNNU Logo December 5, 2025 To the management of America’s nonprofit newsrooms: We are writing to you as the nation’s first-ever caucus of nonprofit newsroom unions, which is composed of the media workers representing journalism outlets across the country. Once again, our industry finds itself at an inflection point, facing the uncertainty of artificial intelligence. Like any new technology, AI can provide a potent new tool to assist us in our work if it is used responsibly, thoughtfully and ethically. However, we have already seen numerous failures in the implementation of AI at for-profit news outlets, where the economic incentive to use AI recklessly has at times degraded the otherwise high-caliber product our colleagues produce. From Axel Springer to Gannett, major for-profit publishers have unveiled flawed AI tools that are hallucinating false news articles or synopses, slowing down journalists’ workflows and otherwise threatening their editorial product. Nonprofit newsrooms can and must do better to uphold the mandates of our mission-driven organizations and ensure readers’ trust in our editorial product. Importantly, we are not calling for a ban on AI. Our message is simple — management must work with us to determine how to best implement this emerging technology and protect journalistic integrity. To that end, we unequivocally demand that you commit to the following guardrails around AI in current or future collective bargaining agreements and in the implementation of such contracts: • AI is rapidly evolving and most of its uses remain to be seen. Our unions will retain the right to bargain over its future implementation. • Management will not lay off media workers as a result of implementing AI. • Our members will not be disciplined if we decide AI is not the best tool for a job, and our members’ usage of AI tools will not be surveilled. • Our outlets will not publish work that is entirely AI-generated, including, but not limited to, text, photos, videos, audio, translations or artwork. When we publish AI-assisted work, it will be clearly labeled as such, will be checked by a human editor and will follow a public ethics policy. • Management will not strike deals to use our work — or the work of freelancers or contributors — to train AI without both our consent and our compensation. Many nonprofit newsrooms have already agreed to common-sense AI provisions, and we applaud them. Publications including Grist, the Associated Press, CalMatters/The Markup and the Chicago Reader enshrined contract language that included such guardrails as protecting unit members against being laid off as a result of AI and only implementing new AI tools when the unit consents. But some nonprofit newsrooms appear set on racing to the bottom. Management at ProPublica, which stands at the forefront of investigative journalism, has repeatedly refused in negotiations with its workers to agree to even the most basic limits on publishing AI-generated content or laying off media workers as a result. At The Marshall Project, the preeminent source for enterprise reporting on the criminal justice system, management has gone many months without responding to their workers’ contract proposal concerning AI. At VTDigger, which provides vital local news to Vermonters, management has offered insulting AI provisions that would allow them to lay off reporters as a result of AI and that include zero guardrails for unionized journalists on how AI impacts their editorial product. And at The Texas Tribune, a distinguished voice covering the Lone Star State, after previously agreeing to AI guardrails, including layoff protections, management recently rejected these provisions in favor of unchecked discretion to roll out AI. Our newsrooms’ readers and small-dollar donors have already expressed their displeasure with the poor decisions leaders of the media industry are making with respect to AI. Our colleagues at for-profit newsrooms are providing cautionary tales. And now, we, the journalists and staff who produce the country’s nonprofit news, demand that you work with us to protect the integrity of our work and ensure AI is used responsibly. The future of journalism depends on it. Respectfully, The unionized journalists and media workers of CalMatters/The Markup, the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, Chicago Sun-Times, Consumer Reports, EdSource, In These Times, Jacobin, High Country News, The Marshall Project, MinnPost, New York Focus, ProPublica, The Salt Lake Tribune, Spotlight PA, The Texas Tribune, VTDigger and contributors from the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project Logos: The Freelance Solidarity Project, National Writers Union, Texas Tribune Guild, CVJC Guild, Salt Lake News Guild, New York Focus Union, Marshall Project Guild, Consumer Reports Guild, Jacobin Union, In These Times Union, CalMatters & The Markup Guild, VTDigger Guild, Edsource Guild, Sun-Times Guild, High Country News Union, Spotlight PA Union, MinnPost Union, ProPublica Guild.
December 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
propublicaguild.org
The news industry has been critical of federal efforts to prevent the regulation of AI. Now, we’re fighting to ensure that AI is regulated in our newsrooms. Sign the NewsGuild-CWA’s petition on AI here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
News Not Slop! Readers demand NEWS not SLOP! Sign the petition.
December 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
propublicaguild.org
Today, unionized nonprofit newsrooms across the country are standing shoulder-to-shoulder to demand that news industry leaders agree to common-sense guardrails around the implementation of artificial intelligence to protect the integrity, quality and accuracy of our journalism.
CNNU Logo: Caucus of Nonprofit Newsroom Unions
December 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
propublicaguild.org
Additionally, management struck out:
1️⃣ Language that would prevent GAI from producing editorial work
2️⃣ A requirement that AI-generated content be clearly labeled and reviewed by human editors
December 3, 2025 at 9:47 PM
propublicaguild.org
It's simple — @propublica.org workers should not be replaced by artificial intelligence. Our contract proposal specifically says that generative artificial intelligence ("GAI") should not be used to replace employees. Management struck out this entire section in their response to our proposal.
December 3, 2025 at 9:46 PM
propublicaguild.org
Earlier this week, we covered @propublica.org’s NYC office in quotes from folks who signed our petition for a fair contract. Our supporters' message is clear: Management needs to meet our demands for a more equitable and transparent workplace now.
A guild member sits at her desk with a poster that reads: From a ProPublica reader: “Just Cause was the first thing Spotlight PA Management and Guild agreed to. Should be a no-brainer for a civic-minded publication like ProPublica.” A guild member sits at a desk with a poster that reads: From a ProPublica reader: “Better, more secure working conditions create better, more impactful journalism.” A poster taped to the ProPublica office closet reads: From a ProPublica reader: “ProPublica workers deserve a contract as powerful as their world-moving investigations.” A poster taped to the ProPublica office wall reads: From a ProPublica reader: “It’s time to protect your most valuable asset, your employees.”
October 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
propublicaguild.org
Many of the signers also eloquently shared why they support our union and our calls for the contract rights we deserve, including Just Cause job security, steward representation throughout the disciplinary process and guardrails around artificial intelligence implementation.
From one of our donors: “I make a monthly donation to ProPublica because I value the work of the ProPublica reporters. They deserve a fair contract” From a ProPublica reader: “They’re asking for reasonable job security protections and a fair contract. How you act and meet this moment has significant implications for the wider world.” From a former ProPublican: “Hi Robin and Steve! I loved working at ProPublica and believed strongly in its mission. I still do. … Please agree to the contract, because it’s the least that hard-working ProPublicans deserve.” From a ProPublica reader: “Do the right thing, ProPublica—we’re watching.”
October 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
propublicaguild.org
Today we delivered to senior management in NY a petition signed by 1,300 ProPublica readers, donors and supporters, as well as fellow journalists at peer newsrooms and former ProPublicans. It’s clear that we have wide support for a fair contract NOW.
ProPublica Guild Secretary Jeff Ernsthausen presents CEO Robin Sparkman with our petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in CEO Robin Sparkman’s office delivering petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in CEO Robin Sparkman’s office delivering petition signatures. ProPublica Guild members gather in the hallway outside CEO Robin Sparkman’s office, delivering petition signatures.
October 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
propublicaguild.org
Support us in our campaign for JUST CAUSE by signing our petition calling on our management to agree to a FAIR CONTRACT NOW 👇
actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
A smiling guild member wearing a ProPublica Guild shirt holds up a pamphlet, Stewards: Instruction Manual.
October 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
propublicaguild.org
A beloved colleague who was terminated last year through management's vague and inconsistent disciplinary process regularly brought apple cake to the office on his birthday. As we did last year, we are marking his absence and calling for job security protections with apple cake in our NYC office.
A smiling guild member wearing a ProPublica Guild shirt uncovers the apple cakes in the ProPublica office. Many guild members wearing ProPublica Guild shirts help themselves to slices of apple cake.
October 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
propublicaguild.org
Will you send our petition for a fair contract to your 5 closest friends?
actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
September 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our members flyered the @ire.org gala to rally support for a fair contract with a transparent disciplinary process and protections against journalists being replaced by AI.

You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Four people on a sidewalk talking People hand out flyers
September 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our members handed out flyers and buttons at the @IRE.org gala tonight! Our message is clear: We deserve a fair contract now! Support us by signing our petition. actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
A flyer reads "Celebrating investigative journalism means giving journalists the protections we deserve." Four people wearing ProPublica Guild buttons and shirts pose for the camera near the entrance to an event. Several people hand out flyers near the entrance to a building. A man in a suit accepts a flyer and shakes hands with one of the people.
September 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
propublicaguild.org
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.

The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.

You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
People wearing union shirts stand outside a red carpet at the entrance of an event as people walk in. People wearing union shirts and stickers smile and hand out ProPublica Guild buttons. Five people sit at a table for an event wearing stickers and buttons supporting the ProPublica Guild. Two people walking into an event wear stickers in support of the ProPublica Guild.
September 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
propublicaguild.org
We took our lunch outside today to demand:

✅ Just Cause that covers everyone
✅ A fair, transparent discipline process
✅ No loopholes for @propublica.org management

We’re united for a contract that protects us all.
August 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
propublicaguild.org
ProPubli-paws love Just Cause 🐾
August 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
propublicaguild.org
Members in Chicago, Seattle, Berkeley and across the country are lunching out to show support for Just Cause protections that apply to every ProPublica Guild worker, every time.
August 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
propublicaguild.org
Our New York members took their lunch outside today to demand that @propublica.org management agree to a fair discipline and performance evaluation system ✊
August 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
propublicaguild.org
1/4 UPDATE: This week, @propublica.org management informed a third bargaining unit member that they will be placed on a performance improvement plan and denied steward representation at the meeting where it is discussed. Our full statement 👇
May 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM