MLB

From the MLB Digital Content and Editorial Team:

Bargaining Unit FAQs:

A majority of MLB’s digital content and editorial staff signed union authorization cards stating that we wish to be represented by the Writers Guild of America East in labor negotiations with our employer, Major League Baseball. We are proud to follow in the footsteps of thousands of other WGAE members across media who have organized to win the right to bargain a union contract and have a voice in their pay, benefits, and working conditions. We will take the final step in union recognition with our election.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding our effort, including information about the election:

What is a union, and why should we unionize?

A union is a group of workers who come together to jointly bargain for workplace improvements they might not otherwise get on their own. As things stand, MLB.com’s digital content and editorial staff does not have a seat at the table when MLB management is making decisions about our department’s future. This is our best chance at changing that.

Concerns that we would like to see addressed include (but are not limited to) transparency and fairness in staffing/compensation protocols, AI protections and a codified pathway to full-time roles for seasonal employees. Other issues will be identified, and bargaining priorities will be set, after we all complete a bargaining survey and elect a representative bargaining committee of our peers.

Beyond the improvements we hope to gain from unionizing, we are also looking to protect what we already have. The moment our union is official, that locks in “status quo” for us, meaning MLB can make no unilateral changes impacting our working conditions without first negotiating with us. That includes any actions relating to existing benefits, such as healthcare and retirement plans, severance and current workplace policies.

What is the Writers Guild of America East?

The Writers Guild of America East is a labor union representing, in addition to representing screenwriters in film and TV, thousands of working journalists and other writers/producers across media. Over the last decade, more than 3,000 new members have organized to join the WGAE and have negotiated contracts with the support and solidarity of the union’s membership, from TV writers’ rooms to newsrooms. The WGAE’s mission is to build a community of creative professionals with the willingness to support each other and the power to secure fair industry standards.

The Guild is an ideal fit for our unit, as our jobs sit right at the intersection of entertainment and media. That said, although we are organizing with their guidance, our union is not a third party — it is us, the digital content and editorial team, uniting to collectively fight for better working conditions and a say in what happens to us.

Why now?

By organizing, MLB.com’s digital content and editorial department is simply catching up with large portions of the media industry and the baseball world, both heavily unionized sectors. But in this particular moment of uncertainty, with the looming expiration of the MLB/MLBPA’s collective bargaining agreement and a potential lockout, the ability to advocate for ourselves and have a voice in decisions made about our jobs is more necessary than ever.

I work for MLB. Do I qualify to be a part of the union?

Our bargaining unit is composed of editorial staff responsible for creating content (in English, Spanish and Japanese) that goes on MLB.com/the MLB app, MLB’s team sites, MLB Pipeline and MLB’s social media channels.

How does the unionization process work, and what comes next?

• Step 1: Organizing Committee/assessing support
  We formed an Organizing Committee made up of MLB digital content and editorial employees, who, over the course of the past year, had discussions with our coworkers to assess if majority support existed in favor of unionizing.
• Step 2: Authorization cards
  Once we reached that majority of assessed support, we sent out union authorization cards — essentially, forms allowing MLB digital content and editorial employees to affirm their wish to unionize.
• Step 3: Requesting union recognition/Election
  MLB was contacted by the WGAE on Oct. 2 to inform them of our desire to unionize and to request a timely, fair process for certifying union recognition. Following discussions between the parties, there will be a certification election to complete the recognition process. It will be a secret ballot election administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Voting will take place over a 48-hour window, and we will all receive an email at our MLB addresses from AAA with instructions. Votes go directly to AAA (not WGAE or MLB) and they will certify the election results. With a majority of “yes” votes confirmed, our union will be officially certified.
• Step 4: Bargaining
  Following recognition, we all will decide on a representative bargaining committee, whose job — with support from WGAE staff, attorneys and members from across the media industry — is to negotiate with management based on the most pressing matters (as ascertained by a survey we will all complete) to see addressed in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The committee will present a tentative agreement to the entire unit for all of us to vote yes or no on ratification. Once the contract is in effect, members then nominate stewards, who work with Guild staff to enforce the contract and communicate with management about additional issues in the workplace. Click here for examples of ratified WGAE contracts.

What are my rights with regards to unionizing?

We are legally entitled to organize our workplace without fear of threats or retaliation. According to the National Labor Relations Board, “It is unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights.” (Read more at the NLRB’s site.) Any such actions will be taken seriously, and we will have the entirety of resources offered by the WGAE at our disposal to fight back.

That said, MLB has promised not to engage in anti-union messaging as long as process discussions with the WGAE are ongoing. This includes barring managers from talking about the union with unit members. We appreciate this good-faith gesture from the league to keep the process fair.

What about union dues?

Dues ensure that Guild members have the resources to negotiate and enforce strong contracts, seek legal support, and implement member-driven events and programs.

No one pays dues until we vote to ratify a first contract that is negotiated by an elected committee of our peers (with support from WGAE attorneys and staff). It’s up to all of us to work together to advocate for a strong contract and then decide, through voting, whether or not to ratify the contract. Why would any of us vote to ratify a contract that wasn’t worth it?

WGAE dues are set by the Council (a governing body made up of elected members). Dues are 1.5% of earnings + $40/quarter membership fee. Upon leaving a union shop, individuals can decide to continue paying the $40/quarter fee to retain Guild membership. The $500 initiation fee is a one-time fee that is waived for organizing groups like ours with anyone on staff before a union contract is in place; it can be paid in installments by anyone hired after contract ratification.

Who can I contact with questions or concerns?

Email our organizing committee at mlbwgae@gmail.com.