Testimonials

"If you ask anyone who works at PLOS, the best part of the organization is the incredible people you work with. I support the PLOS Union so that we can retain, support, and empower our colleagues and make PLOS an organization worth working for again." 

Meghan Hom, Publishing Editor

"I support the union because I believe all PLOS employees deserve fair and equitable pay, the opportunity to be included in decision-making, and adequate support and resources needed to be successful in their job. I believe the union can help us create a more fair and inclusive working environment for current and future employees."

Gena Louque, Publications Assistant

"I support the PLOS Union because PLOS’s status quo leaves too many of us stifled and frustrated when we try to advocate for our needs. Take it from someone on the inside: PLOS wouldn’t work without its workers, many of whom have no input on decisions that affect our day-to-day working conditions. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to make our voices heard and win the fair, equitable workplace that we deserve." 

Ethan Krajewski, Publications Assistant

"Without its employees, none of the articles PLOS publishes would make that long journey from manuscript to peer reviewed science, available for anybody in the world to read. I support the PLOS Union because PLOS employees deserve a voice at the table and a chance to make working at this pioneering open access publisher a stable and fulfilling career."

Erik Hetzner, Staff Software Engineer

"I support the PLOS union because it’s the right thing to do; I will always back myself and my colleagues. PLOS can best grow into its ambitions by empowering and fairly compensating those who shoulder the work and realize those ambitions."

Maddy Ghose, Publishing Editor, Publication Ethics

"I support the PLOS Union because I want to work toward creating greater equity, inclusion, and dignity in the workplace. The PLOS Union will be beneficial for its employees and the organization as a whole."

Sunshine Vostymer, Publishing Editor

"I support the PLOS union because employees deserve to have a voice in our workplace and fair compensation for our work. Decisions about working conditions should be made in collaboration with the workers that make up the backbone of PLOS."

Evan Kartheiser, former Journal Development Associate

"I’m proud to support the PLOS staff’s unionization. Everyone who has worked at PLOS knows that PLOSians are some of the most dedicated, hard-working, and capable people who are strongly committed to the mission and values. These talented staff members are doing key work that underpins everything PLOS achieves and stands for, yet they often lack an essential voice.  Advocacy has always been one of PLOS’s most strongly held values, and the PLOS union is a clear and direct opportunity for PLOSians to advocate for themselves and each other."

Sarah Silva, former Applications Analyst

"I’m proud to support the unionization effort at PLOS. The talented and hardworking employees whose day-to-day work keeps PLOS running deserve a seat at the table for decisions that affect their working conditions. As an organization committed to championing transparency and disrupting entrenched power structures, PLOS should embrace unionization as a natural extension of its values."

Mollie Cowger, former Editorial Operations Manager

"PLOS’s reputation as an organization upending the status quo of inequitable academic publishing is dependent on its many passionate, hard-working individual contributors. They work tirelessly to support and advance the mission and have a deep understanding of the industry and the infrastructure required to deliver on PLOS’s strategic goals. However, they do not have a seat at the table when critical organizational decisions are made. The PLOS union will fill this gap and provide employees with a voice to advocate for themselves as well as the authors, editors, and readers they support.

I wholeheartedly support the PLOS union and its efforts to create a more inclusive, supportive, and fulfilling workplace for all."

Maija Mallula, former Senior Editorial Research Associate

"I support the current PLOS employees’ unionization efforts. PLOS has always stood for transparency and valued strong connections with the research community. A strong union at PLOS can only help in furthering these commitments. I hope all current and future PLOS employees feel as valued as they definitely deserve to be."

Rebecca Sklar, former Editorial Research Associate

"I proudly support the unionizing efforts of current PLOS employees. A union ensures equity and transparency, both of which are foundational to PLOS’s values. The individual contributors behind this effort are the backbone of the business, and they deserve an equitable workplace that reflects their dedication and skills. I want PLOS to be the best it can possibly be, and I believe that is possible with a union."

Maura Kanner, former Senior Editorial Research Associate

"I support the current PLOS employees efforts to create a union. I believe a union at PLOS would create a more efficient and equitable workplace, serving as a model for many other businesses and keeping PLOS at the vanguard of publishing. Allowing employees to have a say in workload, benefits, and compensation brings tremendous value to the workplace. I look forward to seeing this enacted at PLOS."

Gretchen Smith, former Senior Publications Assistant

"Since its inception, PLOS has been committed to fairness, equitability, transparency, and community. I applaud and admire my former colleagues’ unionization efforts, which I believe reflect the very same principles PLOS has championed for over 20 years and will help the organization realize these ideals in its own workplace. I fully support my former colleagues and the formation of a PLOS union."

Nick Simon, former Editorial Operations Manager

"I’m proud to support my former colleagues in their formation of a PLOS union. I can attest that the work done by the Publication Assistants is imperative to the success of the journals, as well as the company as a whole. As such, they deserve to be treated and compensated fairly and should feel empowered to fight for those terms. Additionally, a union would provide PLOS staff with a much-needed sense of autonomy, which will inevitably boost team morale and participation in company-wide goals."

Sylvia Marton, former Editorial Operations Manager

"I support the union because much of the passion and innovation required to execute PLOS’s radical vision, comes from staff without influence. PLOS hires exceptional, mission-motivated individual contributors, who frequently sparkle out when they experience a slow pace of operational change against the realistic needs of the future. Unionizing will strengthen an integral voice of change while also providing a reliable platform to negotiate compensation, benefits, and staffing."

Kristen Monahan, former Data and Insights Senior Manager

"A union at PLOS will help employees advocate for themselves and earn a fair salary for the many hours of work they put in. The union would be able to help ensure that the workload is fairly distributed and everyone has transparency and agency in their workplace."

Sophia Chun, former Publishing Editor

"As a former PLOS employee, I strongly support the formation of a PLOS union. While much of the work done by publication assistants remains behind-the-scenes, their work is essential to PLOS’s everyday operations. They deserve to have agency and a voice when it comes to important decisions, such as equitable workloads, fair compensation, and a diverse and inclusive workplace. I strongly believe a union will benefit the company overall by empowering employees, and in turn boosting morale, reducing burnout, and creating a better environment for future workers."

Abby Hilling, former Publishing Editor

"I support the efforts of my former colleagues in forming the PLOS Union because unions are a powerful tool for minimizing conflicts of interest in representing worker needs. They legitimize the expression of worker concerns by serving as a formal worker-lead authority, which makes them an invaluable partner to management in ensuring the highest standards of work and workplace are met."

Jason Elhaderi, former Publishing Editor

"I’m proud of the initiative that the PLOS operations team always took to advocate for fair labor practices, and unionization is the natural next step. The PLOS union has my full support."

Jennifer Foot, former Editorial Operations Manager