News workers in Lancaster, Harrisburg vote to ratify 1st union contract

• By Jeff Hawkes / For LNP | LancasterOnline

Editor’s note: This story was reported and edited by independent journalists commissioned by LNP | LancasterOnline. To avoid a conflict of interest, neither newsroom management nor the reporting staffs of LNP | LancasterOnline, The Ephrata Review, The Lititz Record Express and WITF played a role in the newsgathering or editing processes. Jeff Hawkes, a veteran reporter and columnist who retired from LNP | LancasterOnline in 2020 after 42 years, reported and wrote this story. David DeKok, an author and former investigative reporter for The Patriot-News/PennLive in Harrisburg, edited this story. LNP | LancasterOnline copy editors ensured this story met the news organization’s standards for clarity, grammar and adherence to Associated Press style.

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Nine months after voting to organize a union, journalists at LNP | LancasterOnline and public radio partner WITF in Harrisburg ratified their first contract Friday with nonprofit owner Pennon.

Representatives of NewsGuild of Philadelphia and Pennon characterized the two-year agreement, which among other things provides 3% raises next July, a $1,000 signing bonus, and a more affordable health plan, as a positive outcome in challenging economic times. Traditional local news outlets have been battered by years of declining subscriptions and advertising revenue.

“For an employer of this size to make these improvements and make their employees’ lives better says a lot about Pennon,” said Bill Ross, NewsGuild of Philadelphia executive director. “They didn’t talk about finances (during negotiations). They didn’t cry the blues. They listened and put money on the table, even severance pay.”

Ross said the contract received overwhelming support from the 55 journalists in the bargaining unit, but he declined to disclose the exact vote.

“Pennon and NewsGuild members share a common goal: everyone at the negotiating table values our employees, local journalism and our community,” said Leigh Horner, interim Pennon president and CEO, in an email. “Ultimately, we wanted to reach an agreement that addresses both our needs and theirs.”

“The agreement provides some stability in an uncertain time, and that helps our employees feel more valued and provides them with clarity on what they can expect from their performance — while allowing Pennon to continue delivering for our community,” she said.

“We all acknowledge the importance of the work LNP journalists produce,” Horner added, “and want to support the individuals producing it.”

The NewsGuild’s Ross said, “We’re in this together. We want the company to continue to thrive and improve.”

Contract specifics

Features of the contract include:

— A health plan, affiliated with Teamsters Local 830 of Philadelphia, that offers substantially lower deductibles and monthly premiums than most members were paying previously.

— A minimum salary of $50,700 ($26 an hour) for full-time employees. As a result, 22 employees who were earning under $50,000 before unionizing will receive an immediate raise.

— A 3% pay increase in July for all members.

— An immediate $1,000 signing bonus for all members.

— Twelve weeks of parental leave at 75% pay.

— One week of severance pay for every year of service, up to eight weeks.

— Pennon offering employees buyouts before laying off staff.

County issues reporter Tom Lisi, who is the bargaining unit’s interim chair, called the contract “life-changing,” especially for the substantial number of employees who were making less than $50,000.

The union sought an immediate 4% raise, he said, but accepted a $1,000 signing bonus as a compromise.

“I’m relieved, and I’m excited that it’s done because I think the committee worked really hard to make sure that we got the types of protections and benefits that we thought were important,” Lisi said.

Veteran photographer Blaine Shahan said he voted for the contract after voting against forming a union in February.

“I decided to just go with it,” he said of the contract, although he said he would have preferred staying on a high-deductible health plan that will no longer be available under the contract.

Shahan, who plans to work another five years or more before retiring, said the fact that Pennon reached an agreement makes him hopeful that the company’s finances are solid.

“As a 40-year employee of the company, I never thought I’d see this happen,” said Claudia Esbenshade, social media creator, who supported unionizing and the contract. “The staff works hard to bring the news of Lancaster to its readers, and this contract can make many of them feel more secure in their positions, pay and benefits.”

Last February, newsroom employees voted 39 to 10 in favor of affiliating with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010, a move that followed a 10% staff reduction in 2024.