TRiiBE Staffer FIRED in Retaliation for Unionization Efforts

Contact (708) 576-1265‬

OneTriibeUnited@gmail.com

CHICAGO — On March 9, two weeks after going public with its efforts to unionize with the Chicago News Guild, TRiiBE leadership senselessly fired a member of One Triibe United, alleging that they had broken nonexistent company ethics rules. We believe this is retaliation for organizing a union. We will be filing an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the National Labor Relations Board. One Triibe United demands the immediate reinstatement of our member and voluntary recognition of our union. 

We believe the grounds for our member’s termination are retaliatory and intended to send a chilling message: that, though TRiiBE leadership claims to support “workers’ rights to unionize,” they don’t actually mean it. Their abrupt firing is harmful to the communities that have earned our trust and puts future coverage in jeopardy due to the cut in editorial staff.

Since going public with our intention to file an election with the National Labor Relations Board, TRiiBE leadership hasn’t taken any steps to voluntarily recognize our union, One Triibe United, despite the majority of eligible TRiiBE staff across the editorial department signing cards and a mission statement showing their support in forming a union with the NewsGuild-CWA. 

This recent termination is the second in our newsroom in the last two months. At a time when journalists of color, and Black women in particular, are being disproportionately impacted by media industry layoffs and as President Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down on anti-DEI efforts, we find it unsettling that a Black-women-led organization has terminated two Black women.

Though we are saddened by the termination of our member, we are heartened by the immediate support and show of solidarity we received over the last two weeks from our readers and allies who recognize the value of our deeply reported, fair and people-centered journalism. 

As a show of solidarity for our member who was fired this week, we’re asking supporters of The TRiiBE to contact publisher Morgan Johnson (morgan@thetriibe.com) to express their concerns that leadership can’t fire a staffer without consequences. In addition, we ask that our allies flood The TRiiBE’s Instagram (@thetriibechicago), Facebook (The TRiiBE), and BlueSky (@thetriibe.com) with messages of support for One Triibe United.

Here is a script you can use:

Hi Morgan, My name is ____. I am reaching out to express concern about the recent firing of a reporter. Corli is a hardworking and dedicated reporter; her termination seems to be a case of retaliation for wanting to unionize. 

How can The TRiiBE, as a Black and woman-owned publication, justify terminating a valued team member at a time when Black women are losing media positions at alarming rates? As a small publication that prides itself on uplifting Black voices, this is unacceptable. 

I demand Corli’s immediate reinstatement and that you voluntarily recognize One Triibe United.