News union coasts to win at LNP, WITF

Editor’s note: This story was reported and edited by independent journalists commissioned by LNP | LancasterOnline. To avoid a conflict of interest, neither newsroom management nor the reporting staffs of LNP | LancasterOnline, The Ephrata Review, The Lititz Record Express and WITF played a role in the newsgathering or editing processes. Jeff Hawkes, a veteran reporter and columnist who retired from LNP | LancasterOnline in 2020 after 42 years, reported and wrote this story. David DeKok, an author and former investigative reporter for The Patriot-News/PennLive in Harrisburg, edited this story. LNP | LancasterOnline copy editors ensured this story met the news organization’s standards for clarity, grammar and adherence to Associated Press style.

A strong majority of journalists at LNP | LancasterOnline and partner WITF, the National Public Radio station headquartered in Harrisburg, voted Monday to form a union, a move they hope leads to contractual protections in the event of more layoffs and job reshuffling.

The vote was 39 to 10 in favor of affiliating with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010, which in coming months will help guide the journalists in negotiating a contract with Pennon, the nonprofit owner of the news organizations. Four other votes went uncounted because of challenges to their eligibility, and four employees did not vote.

“I feel good,” said Jade Campos, 24, a metro reporter who voted in favor of unionizing, spurred in part by layoffs last October in which 24 employees lost their jobs. “I think everyone having a seat at the table (now) will make for a bright future for journalism in Lancaster County.”

But Dan Nephin, 57, crime and public safety reporter, voted no and expressed disappointment at the outcome of the secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

“I don’t think that a union will resolve the issues that are facing this industry, like people not wanting to pay for news,” said Nephin, who has experienced prior layoffs, once with The Associated Press and more recently with LNP | LancasterOnline in January 2017. LNP | LancasterOnline rehired him in March 2019.

Blaine Shahan, a longtime photographer, voted no. “I’m very unhappy,” Shahan said, declining to elaborate.

Ron Hetrick, Pennon president and CEO, who had urged employees to vote “no,” offered a conciliatory statement after the tally, saying he respects the decision and is committed “to engaging in constructive discussions (with union leadership) that reflect both the needs of our employees and the long-term sustainability of our organization.”

“While this marks a new chapter in our workplace,” Hetrick said in an email message to staff, “our shared mission remains unchanged: ensuring our communities continue to have access to the news and information they rely on across our various platforms.”

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Bill Ross, NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia’s executive director, said the local seeks to work with Pennon, noting that the union’s last work stoppage was at The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1985.

“We look forward to working together to make WITF and LNP profitable and, hopefully, thriving into the future,” Ross said.

Newsroom workers began conversations about unionizing and contacted the NewsGuild after a 10% staff reduction last October at its two news organizations. Pennon laid off about 24 employees and initiated plans to restructure newsroom jobs, moves that raised anxiety about job security, journalists said.

Pennon also shrunk the newspaper, offering fewer pages for opinion pieces, letters to the editor and wire stories covering national and international news and sports.

“I didn’t vote yes just for me,” said Claudia Esbenshade, 57, social media manager at LNP | LancasterOnline and a staff member for 39 years. “I voted for the future of the young journalists here. We have a group of young reporters who are so skilled and care about this community, and I’m tired of watching them leave for greener pastures.”

“What we, at WITF, want is to adapt to the future of journalism, which will be a hard road to walk,” said Jordan Wilkie, 34, the regional democracy reporter for WITF and LNP | LancasterOnline since last February. “There’s no ill-will towards people who voted ‘no’. We absolutely need them to be successful. Our vision is for our union to make life and work and the impact of journalism better in all regards for everyone in our union.”

The new union must now negotiate its first contract with Pennon, which can be much more difficult than winning the initial vote. The union will also have to contend with a chilly attitude toward organized labor in the new Trump administration. President Donald Trump fired two Democratic appointees to the labor board on Jan. 27, creating a partisan deadlock that will last until Trump appoints replacements. The deadlock will make it impossible for the board to resolve any unfair labor practice complaints that grow out of the new union’s bargaining with Pennon.

The 57-member LNP | Lancaster Online and WITF bargaining unit becomes the second largest for the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, exceeded only by the one for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia is affiliated with the national NewsGuild/CWA, formerly known as The Newspaper Guild, and CWA, the Communications Workers of America.

In addition to the Inquirer, NewsGuild Local 38010 represents newsrooms at Delaware County Times, Pottstown Mercury, Norristown Times Herald, The Trentonian, The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware Online News, Spotlight PA, the Hazleton Standard Speaker, The Scranton Times Tribune and Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice.