Union Members at Roosevelt Institute Have Ratified Their First Contract

For Immediate Release | April 20, 2018
Media Inquiries: Josh Austin, josh@nyguild.org | 484-269-0158

New York, NY — Today, union members at Roosevelt Institute, the think tank bringing together multiple generations of researchers, writers and advocates to help drive key economic and social debates, ratified their first-ever contract between the organization and the NewsGuild of New York, the local union that represents nearly 3,000 media and research professionals working in the New York City metro area.

In line with their vision for an equitable economy where workers share in collective prosperity, the contract ensures that Guild members working at Roosevelt will receive an impressive 13% wage increase over the life of the two-year contract, which expires Dec. 31, 2019. Additionally, members were thrilled to solidify a robust health insurance plan and secure expanded protections regarding paid leave and additional transparency in the workplace.

“As many of our members know, Eleanor Roosevelt was a proud member of our union,” said Grant Glickson, President of the NewsGuild of New York. “Not only am I thrilled that our members working at the Roosevelt Institute can carry on her legacy of advocating for workers’ rights, but our members negotiated a strong first contract that is equitable and fair.”

In February 2017, management at Roosevelt Institute voluntarily recognized the Guild as the members’ collective bargaining representative and have been at the table since March 2017, reaching a tentative agreement earlier this year.

Roosevelt members advocated for a partnership committee with management, which is intended to bring both parties together to speak about various workplace topics including  training, equity, and other varied issues that matter to the staff of Roosevelt Institute.

"The Roosevelt Institute seeks to build a new economic and political system that is built by many for the good of all, and where everyone has a share in collective prosperity," said the Guild’s Unit Chair Katie Kirchner, Program Manager, Roosevelt Network.  "As both an alumni of our student network and a staff member, I am proud to be part of an organization that internally commits to the policies and practices that we advocate for in the world."

“Franklin Roosevelt once said that ‘it is a fundamental individual right of a worker to associate himself with other workers,’”  said Jeff Krehely, Executive Vice President of the Roosevelt Institute. “In the spirit of this proud tradition, the Roosevelt Institute is pleased that our employees are officially joining the NewsGuild of New York.  We look forward to continuing our shared efforts to ensure the legacy of FDR and his family continues.”

The Guild’s local representative Bettina Damiani served as the union’s lead negotiator alongside Roosevelt Institute’s bargaining committee.

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About the NewsGuild of New York
The NewsGuild of New York is the union for news professionals in America’s media capital. We are the workplace advocate for people in the media business, including some of the best journalists in the country. The national NewsGuild is the largest union for news professionals — and we are its biggest local, fearlessly representing nearly 3,000 journalists and other media employees at New York-based media organizations and their respective bureaus. We understand journalism, from print to digital to broadcast.