Fast Company editorial staff votes to unionize

The Fast Company magazine staff has voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, reports Matthew Flamm of Crain’s New York Business

Flamm reports, “A ‘clear majority’ of Fast Company‘s 40 editorial, social and photo staffers signed union cards to make the Writers Guild their collective-bargaining representative, the union announced Wednesday.

“Organizers at the business publication, which operates a website in addition to putting out a magazine eight times a year, stressed that they were not complaining about their working conditions.

“‘Fast Company is a great place to work,’ said Morgan Clendaniel, a senior editor and organizing committee member. ‘Everyone feels pretty good about it. But things can go south fast anywhere, and it’s always good to have a contract in writing.’

“Parent company Mansueto Ventures only learned of the unionizing effort Tuesday morning. In a brief phone call, Chief Executive Eric Schurenberg said he had been taken by surprise and could not comment on whether the company, owned by Morningstar Chairman Joe Mansueto, would recognize the union.”

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