(Bloomberg) -- Staffers at Pineapple Street Studios, the podcast network behind such shows as Missing Richard Simmons and Wind of Change, signed up to join the Writers Guild of America, East, in the latest example of organized labor gaining traction in that fast-growing segment of the media business. 

Over three-quarters of the roughly 40 workers in the proposed bargaining unit signed up to join the union, according to a Writers Guild representative. The positions include producers, editors and engineers. Pineapple is part of  Audacy Inc., a radio-station owner formerly known as Entercom Communications Corp. US labor law allows companies to recognize and negotiate with a union as soon as it has signed up a majority of the employees. If the business doesn’t voluntarily recognize them, workers can ask the government to schedule an election. 

“The last two years have brought into sharp focus the urgent need for a more fair and equitable workplace,” Pineapple employees wrote in a letter to management on Tuesday.  Audacy declined to comment.

The Writers Guild already represents multiple podcast networks, including Spotify Technology SA brands like the Ringer and Gimlet Media, as well as those at IHeartMedia Inc. Some Audacy radio stations are already represented by the union, and most recently ratified a new contract in September. Pineapple was acquired by Audacy in 2019 for $18 million, according to the employee letter.

The employees said they’re looking for increased transparency around pay, rights to their intellectual property, protection against favoritism at work and improved health insurance, according to the letter.

Eric Mennel, a senior producer, said in an interview that intellectual property is the biggest fight for creative staffers.  

“The nice thing is the folks at Gimlet and the Ringer, Vox and IHeart have done so much legwork raising the bar on living standards and worker protections,” he said. “Questions around IP might be in reach in the coming years.”

Cadence13, Audacy’s other podcast network, isn’t involved in this effort, though Xandra Ellin, another producer at Pineapple, said if its staff moved forward with a union, Pineapple’s team would be “100% in their corner.” 

Audacy, based in Philadelphia, faces financial challenges, including a heavy debt load. In August, the New York Stock Exchange told the company it might be delisted for not maintaining a minimum average closing price of $1 per share over 30 consecutive trading days. The stock closed at 41 cents on Monday.

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