The staff of the Los Angeles Public Press (LAPP) has formed a union, the LA Public Press Union, as part of the Media Guild of the West (MGW). This new unit will represent eight employees, joining the broader efforts of the MGW, which is a local chapter of The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America. The MGW represents several hundred journalists in Southern California, Arizona, and Texas, working at outlets such as the L.A. Times, the Arizona Republic, and the Dallas Morning News.
The LAPP workers aim to enhance workplace culture and secure fair treatment and compensation. “We are forming the LA Public Press Union with the hope of strengthening our workplace culture and ensuring that all staff receive adequate and fair protection, support, and compensation,” they stated.
Since its inception in December 2022, LAPP has committed to providing independent and original local reporting. The organization has built a digital audience of millions. LAPP reporter and union member Phoenix Tso emphasized the importance of unionizing at this point. “Our following is growing, we’re getting more financial support and we’re hiring more people. Safeguarding our mission and making sure the staff is taken care of is more important than ever. This is the moment to unionize.”
LAPP reporter and union member Ashley Orona discussed the importance of maintaining strong workplace relationships. “It’s important to maintain a working relationship between our publisher, managers/team leads, and staff to ensure that the staff’s needs are being met and our work is valued. Especially now that our organization is growing.”
Virali Dave, LAPP audience engagement editor and union member, expressed optimism about the union’s impact. “We are optimistic about what unionizing will mean for our team at present and in the future. We are hopeful this will create more space for proactive problem solving and communication, and that it will ultimately create a team environment that helps us meet our goals with more compassion, clarity, and safety.”
Overall, the LA Public Press Union adds to The NewsGuild-CWA’s network, representing over 27,000 journalists and other media professionals across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
