WASHINGTON FREE BEACON:

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ProPublica union members (X/@propublicaguild)
ProPublica, the self-described “nonpartisan newsroom” that is in reality a left-wing outlet bankrolled by left-wing donors, is facing a potential strike by workers who unionized in 2023 but now say management has been “unwilling to accept basic union protections” after years of contract negotiations. The Free Beacon’s Ira Stoll writes:

Employees picketed ProPublica offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Austin, and Chicago earlier this month, toting signs that said “Ready to Strike” and “ProPublica Workers Deserve Fair Pay.” They appear to have been accompanied by a large inflatable rat, a frequent tool used by organized labor to depict management and non-union labor as vermin. The union has also raised more than $24,000 toward a strike fund to replace wages if workers go out.

“We are prepared to walk off the job and forgo our paychecks to advocate for our members, for ProPublica readers and, now with the looming threat of AI, for the integrity of accountability journalism itself,” the GoFundMe page for the would-be-strikers says.

It’s unclear whether a strike would force ProPublica to cease publication or if it would continue publishing by having management or even replacement workers pump out copy demonizing Republicans. The organization is hiring; current openings include a defense reporter, to be paid $135,000 to $165,000 plus benefits, which include a retirement plan match of up to 5 percent of salary, 90 percent employer-paid health insurance, and “Company Issued Cell Phone or Cell Phone Bill Reimbursement (up to $80 per month).”

It’s almost tempting to contribute to the strike fund just to entice the Republican-demonizing reporters to walk off the job as midterm elections approach. If it works, the tactic could be used widely. Maybe a good investment would be funding cranky labor-union organizers at Zeteo, Drop Site News, Al Jazeera, and other hostile publications, especially since the things the organizers appear most eager for—restrictions on use of artificial intelligence and layoff protections that make it nearly impossible to fire employees—are precisely provisions that impede productivity gains.

READ MORE: ProPublica Faces Threat of Newsroom Strike