America’s Test Kitchen - YES Vote to Join the Union!

On July 19th, workers at America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) announced that they voted by a huge margin - 105 yes to 17 no - to join CWA Local 1400!

The workers, who help produce award-winning content for cooking show America’s Test Kitchen, requested voluntary recognition from the company in May to address critically low pay, expensive health care costs, understaffing, high turnover, and other working conditions. Rather than bargaining with the newly formed “ATK United,” the company hired Ogletree Deakins, the second largest union busting firm in the country, and ATK workers stood together in the face of union-busting.

“It’s been beyond heart warming and faith-instilling to see so many of my coworkers stand up and show up for one another,” said Emily Rahravan, an assistant editor at ATK. “Many have gone out of their way to ensure other people and departments are cared for and listened to. I am so excited to see how much more positive change ATK United can make in the future when we have a say in how the company’s resources are used.”

The bargaining unit includes editors, test cooks, and video, tv, and podcast producers, and will now seek to bargain a contract that includes competitive salaries, affordable healthcare, better benefits, transparent and consistent processes for hiring, performance reviews, promotions, and pay raises, as well as a sincere commitment to diversity at all levels, a continuation of remote work flexibility, and a say in the decisions being made that impact workers.