to Texas-based Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of local TV stations in the country.
“The thought process was try to get as much job security as possible,” Mills Rodrigo tells Washingtonian. “We’ve had good experiences so far with Nexstar,” he says, but members of the new union are seeking “that extra level of certainty.” The top issues that staff would like to see in a contract? Pay transparency and equity, consistent health care offerings, and decent severance packages, Mills Rodrigo says.
The Hill Guild has asked for management to voluntarily recognize its guild, which, like the union for‘s edit, design, and web staff, is part of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild-CWA. Voluntary recognition would obviate the need for an election with the National Labor Relations Board; the Hill Guild says a “supermajority” of staffers signed union cards.
Mills Rodrigo says the Hill’s newsroom staff was cheered to see that the management of Politico, which the Hill considers a competitor,We aren’t doing this to rag on” management, Mills Rodrigo says. “We just want to make the newsroom better for everyone.”