Schneps Media workers vote in union

Workers at the largest chain of print newspapers in New York City voted to unionize with the Independent Association of Publishers' Employees on July 24, the new union announced shortly after votes were counted.

More than two dozen employees at Schneps Media announced their intent to form the Schneps Media Union in June. Over 90 percent of workers who cast ballots at their Brooklyn and Long Island offices in the NLRB vote last week voted to unionize.

Ethan Stark-Miller, a reporter at amNew York and member of the union's organizing committee said in a statement the day of the union vote that members were "elated to finally have won a seat at the table." He added that workers voted to unionize despite being faced with management's anti-union campaign.

"After a year and a half of worker-led organizing and a robust public campaign, Schneps reporters voted overwhelmingly today in favor of securing improved working conditions," Stark-Miller said. "Our campaign also overcame a concerted anti-union effort from management, including an onslaught of emails, calls, and one-on-one meetings aimed at swaying us to vote no. But today we came together to loudly say YES to unionization!”

Key issues for the workers include boosting wages, improving healthcare protections, creating transparent promotion and raise procedures, ensuring responsible staffing levels, maintaining clearly defined job responsibilities, enforcing stronger editorial standards and implementing stronger job security measures. Now that the union vote has completed, workers will seek to begin negotiations for a first contract with management.

A spokesperson for Schneps Media did not respond to a request for comment.

Schneps has gobbled up an increasing number of outlets in the last decade in the five boroughs and Long Island. Now along with amNY, the media company owns amNY Law, the Brooklyn Paper, The Bronx Times, Brownstoner, QNS, Noticias, New York Family, Staten Island Parent and Caribbean Life. On Long Island, its outlets include the Long Island Press and Dan’s Papers.

IAPE represents nearly 6,000 media workers across the New York.

“IAPE is thrilled with the monumental win of the Schneps Media Union and looks forward to negotiating with the company to create a fair contract that protects worker rights, ensures fair treatment of workers and guarantees employees are paid what they deserve for the great work that they do,” IAPE Local 1096 president Jodi Green said in a statement.