Dear Lauren Gustus, Salt Lake Tribune management and our board of directors,

We, the undersigned workers of The Salt Lake Tribune newsroom, have joined to form a union with the Denver Newspaper Guild and Communications Workers of America. 

We ask you to voluntarily recognize our alliance and work with us on a labor contract that will ensure The Tribune remains Utah’s independent voice.

We are grateful for the many positive changes introduced in recent years, including paid family leave, 401(k) match, expanded paid time off and work-from-home flexibility. We feel the eyes of the industry upon us as we pioneer our unique nonprofit model and appreciate your hard work and innovation in that regard.

Ultimately, The Tribune’s newsroom workers produce the journalism that compels donors, subscribers and advertisers to offer monetary support. We inform the public, offer nuance to Utah’s civil discourse, serve as watchdogs over those in power, explore the beauty of our state, inspire readers and amplify voices of the marginalized. 

We understand platform algorithms have changed, impacting online traffic. But tying professional performance to metrics, over which we have limited influence, results in adverse returns. It fishes for eyeballs beyond Utah’s borders, sullies our brand and disincentivizes meaningful journalism that serves our true audience. 

We are deeply concerned about journalists who have lost their jobs, at least in part, over page view quotas largely beyond their control, and others who have quit or considered quitting due to burnout.

We worry about outside influence over our coverage as well. We will guard against any vulnerabilities that emerge from becoming a nonprofit, and guarantee the newsroom’s autonomy. We also want a Salt Lake Tribune that values its workers, pays everyone fairly and competitively, attracts top talent and retains employees from diverse backgrounds. 

Unionizing the workforce aligns with The Tribune’s nonprofit mission. It reinforces our shared commitment to democracy, transparency and accountability. It helps create a strong foundation as we navigate an ever-changing media environment. 

We’ve filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. We will happily withdraw that request upon receiving your voluntary recognition of our union no later than Friday, July 19, 2024.

We look forward to collaborating as we build our path to sustainability. 

With solidarity and respect,

Carmen Nesbitt 

Leia Larsen

Jeff Dempsey

Emily Anderson Stern

Bethany Baker

Robert Gehrke

Rick Egan

Trent Nelson

Courtney Tanner

Tamarra Kemsley

Sofia Jeremias 

Jessica Schreifels (Miller)

Paighten Harkins

Anastasia Hufham

Nicole Weaver

Kolbie Peterson

Shannon Sollitt

Andrew Christiansen

Bryan Schott

Megan Banta

Gabrielle Baquero

Trevor Christensen

Palak Jayswal

Francisco Kjolseth

Alex Partida 

Mark Eddington

Andy Larsen

Pat Bagley

Eve Rickles-Young

Three employees who wish to remain anonymous at this time