🚨BREAKING🚨 Workers at the University of Chicago Press voted a whopping 89% in favor of unionizing with @chicagonewsguild.bsky.social a day after workers at Hachette Book Group voted to unionize. @ucpworkersguild.bsky.social newsguild.org/university-o...

University of Chicago Press workers overwhelming vote to unionize | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

newsguild.org

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 We did it! Workers, keep an eye out for more information headed your way soon! To all our supporters here and in person, THANK YOU! Bound together, solidarity forever!

We know we're a bit nerdy, so let's take a look at how votes will be counted this week! Only two days to go! ✊

We have the power 🩵✊❤️

One step forward, two steps back. Management wants us to think our annual increases are reflect our hard work and dedication. So why do we end up further behind each year we work at the press? We deserve raise schedules that we can rely on and compensation packages that remain fair in the long term.

Everyone has different dreams for the future, but we all have them. This week, we’re looking at how a union can help us protect those dreams.

Workers should have a voice in how their workplace operates and in the policies that directly affect them, from compensation to career advancement to remote work arrangements. UCP Workers Guild is fighting for a seat at the table to make the press a more transparent, democratic, and fair workplace.

We believe that we, the people who make sales, manage journals, handle contracts, design books, support authors/clients, keep editorial standards high, secure publicity for publications, staff exhibits, and more should be informed about how our business works and included in discussions.

As voting begins this week, we're discussing transparency. We're the workers who make the press run, and we should also have a say in policies that directly impact our work and our lives.

We believe integrity is key in our workplace. This week, we’re looking at what that means for how we treat our staff.

Support so nice, some get to vote twice! The university tried to divide us by imposing arbitrary and absurd classifications on our unit. But we are bound together, and stronger together. Vote YES!

"People think... you must ‘pick a cause.’ But this is a myth. It is the illusion of a monstrous future that wants to swallow you whole." Read Mike Corrao on @ucpworkersguild.bsky.social's unionization campaign. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/29/t...

The Future Churns Slowly - Chicago Review of Books

Mike Corrao writes about the unionization campaign at University of Chicago Press.

chireviewofbooks.com

While a letter workers received from management this week states that the press is not anti-union, it goes on to outline anti-union talking points and to advocate for a union-free future at the press. But we're looking forward to our election and to winning our union!

Hear from a few of our members about why we’re unionizing and what unionizing means to them!

Just as a rising tide lifts all boats, unions benefit managers too. Employee management is a pain point for managers and staff alike; moving employee relations to the forefront makes the press a better place for employees of all levels to work.

We’re burned out. This week, we’re looking at the cyclical problems that are causing staff burnout.

ATTN UCPWG members: Let’s go to the polls! Employees who work on campus must vote in person, while fully remote workers will be mailed ballots. The NLRB does not allow for absentee ballots. Not sure how you’ll be voting? Please reach out to the organizing committee immediately.

Read more about our upcoming election at chicagomaroon.com/52526/news/u...

UChicago Press Workers Set to Hold Union Election

The University of Chicago Press chose not to voluntarily recognize a union formed by employees last week, prompting an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

chicagomaroon.com

We're grateful for the support of our UCP authors! Read more messages of support at cwalocals.org/ucp-workers-...

Let's talk vocational awe. In “Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves,” Fobazi Ettarh describes the concept in discussing how librarians’ love of their work is exploited, leading to precarious working conditions and burnout (www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocatio...).

Workers often enter publishing because of a genuine love for books—and we’re asked to endure meager pay and inconsistent policies because we’re “lucky” to do what we do. But passion alone does not pay the bills, and we cannot sustain our work without improvements to our working conditions.

as both a U of Chicago alum *and* author, I fully support the University of Chicago Press worker unionization & as someone who did a sit-in in the admin building for labor rights many moons ago, *not super surprised* they didn't voluntarily recognize the union more: cwalocals.org/ucp-workers-...

UCP Workers Guild@ucpworkersguild.bsky.social · 3mo ago

We’re unionizing! Workers at UCP are forming a union with the Chicago NewsGuild, TNG-CWA Local 34071, joining the nationwide movement for a stronger publishing industry.

The publishing industry has a history of inequality, and we know that low salaries contribute to this. Making this industry more accessible for those without generational wealth or high-earning partners, for those with health conditions, and for parents and caretakers will require equitable wages.

We acknowledge financial constraints, but we also know there’s more to the story. Salary increases secured by other campus unions show us there is room for improvement, and salaries of the highest paid employees reveal that the university has the ability to pay well above COL when they choose to.

While we're disappointed that the university decided not to voluntary recognize us, we're still bound together and ready to go. Let's be honest, we love voting (especially for labor rights)! 🩵✊❤️

UCP’s starting pay for a FT employee is less than $40K. This doesn’t line up with Chicago's COL or its average rent and home prices. We understand the value we bring to our jobs, and we believe our wages should align with the real costs of living a comfortable life in the city where we work.

We’re fighting for a more equitable workplace. This week, we’re looking at what pay equity looks like for our workplace, the cost of living in Chicago, and UChicago’s budget myths.

Chicago's a union town with a long history of labor activism. We launched our public campaign on the 140th anniv. of the Haymarket Affair, honoring the legacy of brave Chicagoans who took a stand to improve their conditions & those of workers across the country. Source: www.wttw.com/chicago-work....

One job should be enough. Read The Chicago Maroon's piece on our union here: chicagomaroon.com/52249/news/u...

University of Chicago Press Employees Unionize as UCP Workers Guild

The union is seeking voluntary recognition by Friday to begin contract negotiations. A supermajority of the 139 eligible workers have already signed union authorization cards, a union spokesperson sai...

chicagomaroon.com

It truly is the summer of publishing unions! Go have a read at this article just dropped by Literary Hub: lithub.com/unions-are-h...

Unions are having a moment in publishing. Here’s why.

Yesterday, workers at the University of Chicago Press announced a plan to unionize. As Publishers Weekly reported, the UCP Workers Guild would be the first union in the nonprofit publisher’s …

lithub.com