Futuro Media Staff Unionize, Skip Initial Pay Raise Demands.

Staff at Futuro Media, the company behind the public radio show and podcast “Latino USA” and podcast series like “Anything for Selena,” “Suave,” LOUD,” and “La Brega,” have voted to unionize under the Writers Guild of America East banner. The 15-member bargaining unit has called on management to voluntarily recognize the union. They also want Futuro to agree to a contract that includes codified wages and benefits and other industry-standard provisions that have become standard across industry. But no wage demands are being put on the table.

“Our collective actions are because we deeply care about Futuro, our coworkers, and the work we do – telling stories with heart, producing award-winning journalism, and creating stories that inform, entertain, and resonate with our audiences,” the staff writes in a letter to management. “Our union is a way of expanding that commitment and we are excited about the potential that comes with this step. We believe in Futuro’s mission and see our union as a way to help make the company more collaborative, equitable, and transparent – making it an example for our industry.”

Futuro Media was founded in 2010 by public media veteran Maria Hinojosa. Like many independent media organizations, Futuro has faced financial challenges in recent years. But after layoffs in 2023 and budget cuts, the non-profit has said that it has largely found its footing. The union acknowledges that the company has “rebuilt and continued to survive” and it isn’t looking to use the bargaining process to undermine those efforts.

In what it says is an act of “good will,” the staffers are not asking for any salary increases in their initial contract under WGAE. Instead, they are offering an initial collective contract that covers only essential labor protections. “Our goal is to achieve union recognition and a union contract at the same time, to minimize the costs and time that more extensive bargaining might incur,” it tells management.

The proposed deal centers on six key priorities that employees say are aimed at creating a more transparent and equitable workplace. Among the biggest asks are clearer and fairer policies governing discipline and termination, along with pay structures that ensure employees are compensated equitably across similar roles and experience levels. Workers are also seeking standardized job titles that better reflect actual responsibilities and include defined pathways for advancement and promotion.

The proposal also calls for safeguards when workloads expand, arguing that significant increases in duties or responsibilities should come with appropriate compensation and support. And employees are pushing for a greater voice inside the organization, seeking a more formal role in company decision-making processes.

“We believe a union will be a bold statement during these volatile times: that we are continuing to take steps to be a progressive organization committed to the care of its staff while telling rigorous, impactful journalism,” their letter says.

In addition to Futuro Media, the WGAE includes workers at podcast production companies including Vox Media, Crooked Media, iHeartMedia, Pushkin Industries, Lemonada Media, The Ringer and Spotify Studios.