St. Louis Public Radio’s news, programming and marketing employees vote to unionize

The non-managerial staff in St. Louis Public Radio’s news, programming and marketing departments voted to form a union.

Seventy-eight percent of the eligible employees voted yes this week to create the St. Louis Public Radio Guild, part of the Communications Workers of America.

The STLPR Guild is the first public media union in Missouri. The vote was conducted under laws governing public-sector employees via a secret ballot, administered by the Missouri Board of Mediation. The results will be certified after a 10-day waiting period, as required by board policy.

“This monumental step is proof our workers are eager to ensure St. Louis Public Radio is a more equitable and sustainable news organization for the years to come,” said Brian Munoz, a photojournalist and multimedia reporter at St. Louis Public Radio and a member of STLPR Guild’s organizing committee.

“Journalism is critical to our democracy, and we want to ensure STLPR’s staff has a seat at the bargaining table so they can continue doing their best work,” said Tammy Chaffee, a district organizing coordinator with the Communication Workers of America.