Join us in demanding a real voice in our workplace
why we’re unionizing
We love books. We love working in publishing. And we recognize that the way publishing currently works is unsustainable while leadership prioritizes shareholder profits over our rights as workers! We can make our jobs more sustainable—more creative, fair, equal—with higher salaries, accessible steps to promotions and raises, impartial review of disciplinary issues, protected DEI hiring and retention policies, and much more. To do that, we need to build organized power, together. We need a union.
I want a union because I love my job. My coworkers are kind, talented, wonderful people and I want to continue working with them. Right now, the company can fire people without any reason or notice. And they do. We bring all of our intelligence, skill, and experience to Hachette and we deserve fair compensation, stability, and loyalty in return. I want to keep making books with these people — I want a union.
Jennie Cross (she/her), Senior Production Associate, Manufacturing
Having a union will allow us to not just have better jobs but to make better books. I just want my peers and I to feel like we can actually afford to stay and grow in the publishing industry, and that means building a system to guarantee that wages will be fair, that people won’t just be kicked out again through a revolving door, and that we will have the resources and support to do our work with pride, but without burning out.
Andy Wang (they/them), Designer, Workman Kids
I sincerely believe that a union at HBG would benefit everyone in every position and every department. We deserve an actual say in the major decisions that affect us all and more protections for our jobs. With the rise in AI, we are starting to see that it is being more and more integrated to our work and we need protections in place so that there are not more indiscriminate layoffs. Unionizing at HBG would set the precedent for the rest of the Publishing Industry and this change is needed now more than ever.
Maria Diaz (she/her), Senior Contracts Associate, Contracts
The mission of the Hachette Book Group is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment, and opportunity. Who carries out that mission? We do. We are taking ownership of our work and our success by advocating for a union. We grow as we take on unfamiliar ideas. We are changing the story, building relationships, challenging established thinking. As HBG’s leadership asks us to understand our consumers, we ask that you understand your workers, many of whom are struggling mightily with the insecurity and opacity of the status quo. Together we can publish great books well, and all of us can prosper.
Dave Cramer (he/him), Senior Product Analyst, Information Technology
I care about my colleagues and the future of publishing. We’re all passionate about what we do and proud of our work; unionizing protects that. We deserve and need fair wages, stability and transparency, and better benefits. I firmly believe in our right to stand together, and I know that in doing so, we will secure a brighter, safer future for all of us at Hachette—and for publishing as a whole.
Elina Savalia (they/them), Assistant Editor, Orbit
My career has been made possible only by the generosity and tutelage of my colleagues. I am immensely grateful to be where I am. But more often than not, I have seen people new to the industry failed by low wages, poor mentorship, and a lack of opportunities. I think a union is the only way to truly embody ownership mentality and make it possible for anyone to succeed in publishing.
Jake Regier (he/him), Senior Production Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
what we, as workers, want
A livable wage.
We deserve salaries that actually reflect the cost of living.
Increased job security and protection of our work.
We deserve protection from arbitrary layoffs and from having to feed our work into technologies such as generative AI. Longevity, institutional knowledge, and expertise deserve respect.
To protect existing policies we value.
Benefits will not be unilaterally removed nor modified without our consent. Whether it is our health insurance, unlimited sick days, summer Fridays, or winter holiday closure, we want to see our benefits protected in a fair contract.
To be treated with dignity and respect.
We want the dignity of a functional workspace that values us equally. And yes, that means everyone gets their own desk and storage space!
The right to work the job we were hired for.
We should be employed to work within the agreement of our job description. We should not have to manage people in order to earn a livable wage.
The right to grow at our workplace.
We deserve to clearly understand how to advance in our careers and should be fairly advanced on the basis of merit, rather than arbitrary budgetary concerns that prioritize shareholder gains over worker retention.
The option to work from home or work remotely.
We should not be punished for having children, families, or unexpected personal emergencies. We intend to bring publishing into the modern working world.
A workload we can realistically complete without undue stress.
We deserve the support needed to do our jobs well, and protections to our time off.
Authentic “ownership mentality.”
We are the ones who create growth and success for HBG. We have an impact. We should be respected at the bargaining table.
A working culture that protects the unique value of all imprints from the pressure of effort solely commodified to grow the bottom line.
Our work should not be hindered by unilateral, thoughtless corporatization and cumbersome workflows. Some policies do not make our jobs more efficient, and do not help us win.
sign a card
Are you ready to join our union? Sign a Union Card to become a member!
The Hachette Workers Coalition is affiliated with the Washington-Baltimore arm of NewsGuild. NewsGuild is a branch of the AFL-CIO.
