A union is organized when a group of employees (in this case, the editorial staff of MSNBC and The Choice) gather together to advocate for their interests and negotiate a contract with management to set minimum standards. Union contracts are common in our industry and can address everything from salaries and benefits to diversity and inclusion. Across the media industry there are hundreds of examples of union contracts improving workplaces with transparency and equity – achieved by the employees who joined with the other union members across the country to lift standards for all.