Public Relations Professionals Joining Together in Union

Public relations professionals like the creative, stimulating work of their career, but they often work in fast-paced and high-pressure environments. The stress, long hours, and inadequate compensation at public relations agencies can lead to burnout and drive dedicated professionals out of the industry. Public relations professionals can join with their co-workers to form a union and enjoy sustainable careers. Working together, public relations professionals can:

Increase compensation
Negotiate for policies that promote work-life balance
Bring transparency and clarity to the hiring, promotion, and advancement process
Gain a say in other important workplace decisions

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Union Professionals are Making Workplace Gains

Over six million professionals have joined unions to gain power in their workplaces and secure their pay, benefit, and working conditions in a legally binding contract. With their unions, professionals have created quality careers by achieving tangible gains, including salary minimums, work-life balance, and a voice in decisions that affect them. Similar gains could be achieved in the public relations industry. Some specific examples of these gains include:

From Vox.com to HuffPost to The Onion, journalists at digital news platforms across the news industry have realized the benefits of forming unions. By using their collective voice journalists at Vox.com negotiated for a union contract that guarantees a minimum salary of $56,000, annual raises ranging from 2.75 to 3 percent, health insurance for part-time employees, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave. News professionals at The Intercept secured first-of-its kind diversity and inclusion provisions in their union contract, including requiring at least two candidates from underrepresented groups are interviewed when hiring.

Nonprofit professionals in union have made it a priority to address burnout, as nonprofit workplaces are known for heavy workloads and low pay. Employees at organizations like Pittsburg United and the Democracy Collaborative negotiated for comp time for working exceptional hours and flexibility in scheduling to help employees balance the demands of work and family. Nonprofit union members have also secured salary minimums and annual raises in their union contracts along with pathways for advancement.
Public radio professionals can be called to work at all hours of the day, which is why public radio professionals in union have negotiated for protections that prevent employees from literally working 24-7. For example, WBUR employees have comp time for extended days, being "on call," and returning to work after less than 12 hours between shifts. Union public radio professionals have also secured annual raises, additional merit increases, and benefits like tuition reimbursement and professional development.

How to form a union

While over six million professionals have exercised their workplace right to form a union, and many more would support and join a union in their workplace. Forming a union may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. A union is just a group of employees working together to improve their workplace, and forming a union largely consists of talking to coworkers about their experiences at work. Below are the steps to forming a union.

Step 1: Contact an organizer

A professional union organizer will be able to guide you through the union organizing process. Additionally, by organizing with an established union with staff, you will have the resources needed to support you and your coworkers throughout the organizing process.
Step 2: Build coworker support

You will build support for your union by having conversations with your coworkers. Ask your coworkers about what improvements they would like to see in your workplace and how those improvements can be achieved with a union. Once there is a majority of interest in a union, you and your coworkers will sign confidential "authorization cards” to express your support for a union.
Step 3: Union recognition or election

After you have a strong showing of support for your union through signed union authorization cards, you will either ask your employer for recognition of your union or file a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. If your union files for an election, you will work with the NLRB and your employer to set the terms of the election. If your union receives 50% plus one support for your union from those who voted, you win your union.
Step 4: Negotiate your union contract

After your union is certified through an election or recognition, you and your co-workers will sit down with management and negotiate over your pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Step 5: Vote on your contract

You and your co-workers will vote to approve the contract you negotiated with management.