ProPublica Journalists Authorize Strike Over Contract, AI Disputes

19 September 2026

Unionized staff at ProPublica this month voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in the midst of a lengthy contract dispute. The NewsGuild of New York's ProPublica bargaining unit on March 20 authorized a strike, with 92% of unionized ProPublica staff members in favor, and 99% participating in the vote.

The vote gives union leaders authorization to call a walkout if negotiations fail, after more than two years trying to secure a first contract. The ProPublica Guild represents about 150 journalists, videographers, development professionals, copy editors and other staff.

The issues are employment security and the use of artificial intelligence. Union leaders say company management refused to agree to crucial protections, including "just cause" for firings and guardrails around AI deployment.

"Management has refused to agree to protections against replaceability," said Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York. "It’s up to management to decide whether to agree to a fair contract or face a strike."

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge alleging the company made a unilateral change to AI policy. It also called on readers to not cross "the digital picket line" by visiting ProPublica's website.

The fallout from the failed negotiations went on. In April, ProPublica journalists carried out a 24-hour strike and picketed in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Nieman Journalism Lab described it as first U.S. newsroom strike to focus in part on AI.

The ProPublica strike was the latest in a spate of newsroom labor disputes. Journalists at the Los Angeles Times, heart of the country's largest media market, had granted their own union leaders authorization for an open-ended strike earlier, in September 2024.

Los Angeles Times journalists voted 85% in favor of open-ended-strike authorization. But membership levels were shrunken, with just 205 members out of 450 in 2022, after layoffs and buyouts. Their latest contract fight with the California Times had been ongoing for more than three years.

The wider context is a wave of union organizing from 2022-2023. The NewsGuild of New York launched 39 organizing campaigns. And freelance writer unions are proliferating.

As for ProPublica's leadership, spokesperson Kathleen Ertner declined to comment on the "just cause" or AI talk, but wrote, "ProPublica is committed to reaching an agreement with the union as quickly as possible and to quickly resolving the unfair labor practice charge. We expect to continue to have open and productive conversations."