Huffington Post’s editorial employees seek to unionize

The Huffington Post’s editorial employees have petitioned to unionize and formally asked management Tuesday to recognize their representation by the Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE), becoming the latest and largest online newsroom seeking collective bargaining.

“An overwhelming majority” of about 350 editorial staffers at The Huffington Post and HuffPost Live signed union cards, asking for WGAE’s representation. Management can voluntarily recognize the choice, allowing Huffington Post's employees to begin the process of collective bargaining. If it doesn't, there will be a binding election at the National Labor Relations Board.

“In just a few months, staff across the country united around key issues including: transparent and equitable compensation, clear job responsibilities, editorial freedom and independence, diversity in the newsroom and consistent management protocols on hiring, firing and discipline,” the Huffington Post’s organizing committee said in a statement.

Arianna Huffington, who founded the site and is editor-in-chief, has previously hinted at supporting the employees' move. "We fully support our newsroom employees' right to discuss unionizing and will embrace whatever decision they make on this issue," Arianna Huffington said in a statement sent to CNNMoney in October, when the union was in talks with employees to distribute signing cards.

The Huffington Post is now owned by Verizon Communication's AOL unit.

“We anticipate the company will honor the decision by the very large majority of its editorial staff to be represented by the WGAE, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship," said Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, in a statement.