“Marketplace” union says American Public Media won’t recognize it

The union attempting to organize staffers who work for the public radio business news show “Marketplace” says that American Public Media won’t voluntarily recognize it.

“That’s fine — we know we have the support to win an election,” the union said in a statement on Twitter. “But worse than that, the company is trying to exclude our colleagues on the Media Production team.”

Media producers are technical directors, sound designers and engineers working behind the scenes.

The staffers are working to unionize with SAG-AFTRA, which represents content employees at National Public Radio and employees at public radio stations across the country.

In addition to its flagship show, “Marketplace” has eight other shows, and hosts, reporters and other staffers have signed to unionize.

One thousand stations carry American Public Media’s 20-plus national programs. Its multi-regional station operations include 49 public radio stations and 42 translators in the Upper Midwest and California.