Talking Points Memo

Today much of the world is celebrating International Worker's Day. Here in the United States — where we want to celebrate workers but not too much lest they think they can rise up and run the place — we have Labor Day, in September, which is maybe best considered an act of appeasement rather than a celebration. 
 

Regardless, today is a day about workers. TPM cares about workers. While there are a dwindling number of news outlets out there, there are an ever growing number of subscription and membership services competing for revenue. Of course, the quality of the product or service is generally the most important factor when considering where to spend your money. But to the extent you care about the quality of life for the people making the stuff, it's difficult to find a better option than TPM. 
 

Around 2015, there was renewed interest in media unions. It began with Gawker, which became the first digital news outlet to unionize. A few years later, TPM's staff unionized. Josh Marshall immediately and voluntarily recognized the union. Soon after, we had our first collective-bargaining agreement. Here's what the Writers Guild of America, East said at the time:
 

The Talking Points Memo editorial staff has unanimously decided to form a union under the Writers Guild of America, East. TPM's editor and publisher Josh Marshall has already voluntarily agreed to recognize our union, and we are thrilled that management agreed so quickly to work with us.
 

We all love TPM and appreciate the freedom that comes from working at a small, independent media company. We also really appreciate the huge strides TPM has made in recent years to make our office a great place to work.
 

If you aren't in this industry or perhaps are unfamiliar with the labor process generally, this might strike you as insignificant. But compare that with, for example, what Hearst employees said about their efforts in March 2023:
 

Zach Lennon-Simon (Delish) from Hearst's New York office said, "For two years Hearst has stalled, low balled, and refused to bargain with us. Today we're walking out because we'd like to remind Hearst what they are without our labor; nothing but a name."
 

We are very pro union here at TPM because we value workers. We don't exist just to make money. We think that we provide a good product to our readers and listeners and a good place to work for our employees. Good organizations exist at the intersection of those two objectives. We hope you'll consider supporting us.