Hachette Book Group and University of Chicago Press Workers Both Vote to Unionize

Workers at two major publishers — Hachette Book Group and University of Chicago Press — won union elections in the same week.

Two publishing houses voted to unionize in the same week, marking a notable moment for labor organizing in the book industry. The University of Chicago Press Workers Guild (UCPWG) won its election, with a majority of the group's 134 members voting in favor. Hachette Book Group employees also won their union election, according to reporting from Publishers Weekly and Lit Hub. Hachette is one of the largest publishers in the United States, making its unionization particularly significant in scale.

Why it matters

The twin victories represent a continued push by workers at major and mid-size publishing houses to secure collective bargaining rights. The outcomes affect hundreds of publishing employees and add to a broader wave of union organizing across the media and publishing industries.

What's next

Both newly formed union groups will now move toward negotiating their first contracts with their respective employers.

Key facts

• University of Chicago Press Workers Guild (UCPWG) won its union election with a majority of 134 eligible members
• Hachette Book Group employees also won their union election in the same week
• Hachette Book Group is one of the largest book publishers in the United States
• Both results were reported on the same day, described as 'another great week for the labor movement in publishing'

Bias & framing notes

Lit Hub's framing — 'another great week for the labor movement' — is explicitly pro-union in tone, while Publishers Weekly's headline is more neutral. The body text from Publishers Weekly was unavailable, so specific details about Hachette's vote count or unit size could not be verified from that source.