Hachette Workers Coalition

@hbgworkers.bsky.social

The Hachette Workers Coalition is a union fighting for better benefits, protection, rights, and increased equity, transparency, and agency at HBG https://linktr.ee/hachetteworkerscoalition

PART 2 of 2: who is the real third party? We took a look at HBG’s recent LM-20 report, a mandatory and public disclosure form required by the U.S. Department of Labor l. Here’s what we found, and what this means for all of us. We know what we’re worth.

What was LRI hired to do? Per their own contract form LM-20, HBG hired LRI “to persuade employees to exercise or not to exercise, or persuade employees as to the manner of exercising, the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.”The union isn’t an outside party. LRI is. HBG wants us to be scared of the union-which is all of us-while paying a consultation firm that can’t even spell the company’s name correctly to pursuance workers not to unionize. 

“Organization: Hachett Book Group”We have the receipts. We’re not persuaded by LRI and HBG. We know what we’re worth.

PART 1 of 2: who is the real third party? We took a look at HBG’s recent LM-20 report, a mandatory and public disclosure form required by the U.S. Department of Labor l. Here’s what we found, and what this means for all of us. We know what we’re worth.

Let’s look at  hachette’s contract with LRI: How much is HBG paying? What’s their goal?HBG is paying LRI consultants $425/hour. They’re also covering travel expenses. 

10. Terms and conditions. (Explain in detail; see in instructions. Written agreements but me attached.):
Written agreement/arrangement 
Written agreement to represent Hachette Book Group at their facility in New York, NY to educate all their employees regarding exercising their rights to organize and bargain collectively. This agreement is for no specific time and may be terminated by either party at any time. Hourly rate of $425 per hour, plus reasonable travel expenses. That’s almost 15x HBG’s base hourly rate. We’re told that our salaries are competitive and company funds are limited. Why are outside consultants worth so much for to HBG than their own employees?

VOTING GUIDE PART 2 OF 2: What to know and how to prepare! Our voting guide is here! We’re excited to vote YES! A document version of this information is available on our LinkTree. Any questions? This is the time. Do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Your ballot: Mark your ballot, then sign the back of the yellow return envelope in the space provided. Mail your ballot immediately via USPS. No postage or marked return address is necessary.How to secure your ballot: Do not allow anyone to handle or mail your ballot besides yourself.
Your ballot must reach the regional office by end of business day July 6th, preferably June 26th.
If you do not receive a ballot by Monday, June 15th, call the NLRB Region 2 office at 212-264-0300 and reference case No. 02-RC-385989.How do I know my voting assignment? If you’re unsure about whether you’re voting in-person or by mail, please reach out to a union buddy or get in touch with a member of the organizing committee immediately at info@hachetteworkers.com to verify your voting method.Let’s get out the vote! We strongly encourage you to exercise your right and vote.
No time? Encourage your coworkers to move around non-essential meetings to ensure you and your team have time to vote.
If you’re traveling during the voting period, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at info@hachetteworkers.com to discuss next steps and options.

VOTING GUIDE PART 1 OF 2: What to know and how to prepare! Our voting guide is here! We’re excited to vote YES! A document version of this information is available on our LinkTree. Any questions? This is the time. Do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Where is in person voting? Voting will take place in the Multipurpose Room (MPR) on the 4th floor.
Eligible voters assigned to the New York office must vote in person to participate in the election.Your ballot: Mark your ballot in secret by placing an X in the YES box, then fold the ballot before leaving the voting booth.Safety and accommodations: Please email the organizing committee at info@hachetteworkers.com so we can communicate your access needs to the NLRB.
HBG will disable audio equipment and cover cameras in and immediately outside the MPR, and a National Labor Relations Board Agent on site will check this each day. 
We are setting up a schedule of people to walk together to the MPR in groups if you don’t want to walk alone!Mail in voting: Mail ballot kits are being sent June 9th to your mailing address on file with HR. 
We suggest you mail your ballot by June 26th so that it arrives by the July 6th deadline. You MUST use USPS to mail your ballot.

Our election date has been set! The NLRB ultimately decided that the election will be a hybrid format consisting of manual (in-person) voting for any employees assigned to the NYC office, and mail-in ballot voting for everyone else (if you work remotely or report to an office outside of NYC).

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Part 1/2: Our goal is simple: secure what we have & build off of what we want & deserve. Our unionized friends are proof that that this (and more) is possible. What about that we could WIN? We won’t accept a contract that offers less than what we know we deserve, so we invite everyone to dream BIG.

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Part 2 of 2: when workers organize, management pushes back bc they don’t want to give up their power to make unilateral decisions about our benefits and working conditions. Remember: the union is not an outside party, it’s ALL OF US! Be a part of union democracy in action.

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Part 1 of 2: Let’s play a game of union bingo! Union busting is an old, tired playbook, and HBG has been caught taking directly from it. We’ve taken the liberty of circling the tactics HBG is using so far, so let’s go through them one by one.

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HBG has launched their anti-union campaign by spreading anti-union flyers via our company portal and common spaces. The flyers use tired talking points, framing the union as a third party that will harm our existing benefits & workplace culture. But the union is all of us, & we won’t be intimidated

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May 5th: Today we learned that HBG is denying to voluntarily recognize our union. To put it simply, HBG is union busting. HBG had opportunities to address worker concerns over the years. Now, it’s time for a democratically elected seat at the table. The union is YOU. The union is ALL OF US.

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To our colleagues: have questions? We want to help! When it comes to eligibility, HBG and HR cannot unilaterally decide who can be in a union; that decision is overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. To RSVP for an upcoming info session, head to our link in bio for our Events Sign-Up form.

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We, the employees at Hachette Book Group, are proud to announce that we are unionizing with Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild-CWA Local 32035, of the AFL-CIO, in order to ensure better benefits, protections, and rights for workers as well as increased equity, transparency, and agency in the workplace.

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