"this year i got a gender-affirming surgery, which is not covered by the reader's short-term disability policy. i used sick days for recovery," says staff writer @juggaloreporter.bsky.social.

"i needed this book deal because i am not paid enough to cover childcare without it," says staff writer @katieprout.bsky.social.

"this policy would put an undue hardship on myself and the other parents in the union," says editor @kerrycardoza.bsky.social.

*cough cough* management has proposed cutting our sick time in half—to just six days a year. some of our members shared what it would mean to agree to noisy creek's sick time proposal 🧵

The Chicago Reader Union has been bargaining w/ Noisy Creek since February. In that time, management has consistently offered proposals that would cut longstanding benefits in exchange for meager pay raises. We need YOU to tell Noisy Creek we deserve better! 🧵 🔗: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

6.24.26 union rat's log this morning, the reader union returns to the table with noisy creek management. noisy creek's recent counterproposals suggest many policies & benefits worse than our current contract. but we know our worth, & we won't accept unnecessary concessions. ttyl, union rat <3

last year was tumultuous, to say the least, but the work of my union made me proud to be a union rat. thank you everyone for reading my rat log. pls reshare so others can follow along and learn how to support my comrades and i if/when we need it. more soon! yr friend, union rat