Organizing Update

The Desert Sun

On Wednesday, journalists at the Gannett-owned newspaper, The Desert Sun, in Palm Springs, voted overwhelmingly to join Media Guild of the West, TNG-CWA Local 39213, through mail-in balloting that was supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

"This win is big because it reaffirms what I already know: our reporters, photographers, and producers are united behind our steps to better the newsroom," photographer and videographer Vickie Connor said. "I'm excited because I know we will bring this winning energy to the bargaining table to fight for the changes we want and need."

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The Second City

Comedy educators at The Second City in Hollywood, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; and Toronto, Ontario, have filed for union certification as the Association of International Comedy Educators (AICE). Educators in Hollywood will be represented by CWA Local 9400 and those in Toronto by CWA Canada. Chicagoans will be represented by Illinois Federation of Teachers. The Second City was recently acquired by private equity company ZMC.

The Second City has been a training ground for generations of Canadian and American humorists. Alumni include Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Rick Moranis, Joan Rivers, and Amber Ruffin.

The organizing campaign focused on anti-racism and intersectional justice. In the AICE mission statement, organizers said they were creating a union "to guarantee equitable and just working conditions for all The Second City teachers and facilitators in Chicago, Hollywood, and Toronto." CWA Canada President Martin O'Hanlon voiced strong support for the new members, saying "The best way to improve quality, morale, and diversity is to give workers a stronger voice and the power to negotiate."