Equal Opportunity Policy

1. Our Commitment

UnionNews LLC is committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and in all interactions with users, partners, and the public. We believe that diversity of thought, background, and experience strengthens our platform and our mission to provide a neutral, community-driven news experience. As a company dedicated to giving every person a voice, we hold ourselves to the same standard internally — ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

2. Non-Discrimination Statement

UnionNews LLC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military service status, citizenship status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, compensation, benefits, training, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

This non-discrimination commitment extends equally to our platform users. All users of the Union News platform are entitled to access and participate in the platform's features without discrimination. Content, features, and services are provided equally to all users within their respective subscription tier.

3. Diversity and Inclusion

UnionNews LLC actively promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion within our organization and across our platform. We believe that a diverse workforce brings varied perspectives that are essential to building a platform that serves all communities fairly. Our diversity and inclusion commitments include:

• Workforce Diversity: We actively seek to build a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, with representation across race, gender, age, disability status, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of diversity.
• Inclusive Culture: We foster a workplace environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best work. We encourage open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect among all team members.
• Platform Neutrality: Union News maintains strict political neutrality as an organization. Our platform is designed to amplify all voices equally and does not favor any political viewpoint, ideology, or affiliation in its algorithms, moderation practices, or content policies.
• Community Representation: We seek feedback from diverse user groups to ensure that the Union News platform meets the needs of a broad audience and does not inadvertently exclude or disadvantage any community.
• Vendor Diversity: Where possible, we engage with vendors, contractors, and partners from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities.

4. Hiring Practices

UnionNews LLC follows fair and transparent hiring practices designed to identify the best candidates based on qualifications, skills, experience, and cultural contribution. Our hiring commitments include:

• Job postings are written using inclusive language and distributed through channels that reach diverse candidate pools.
• All candidates are evaluated based on job-related criteria. Interview processes are standardized to minimize the impact of unconscious bias.
• Hiring decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic and are based solely on the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the role.
• We do not ask candidates about salary history in jurisdictions where such inquiries are prohibited, and we strive to offer competitive, equitable compensation regardless of background.
• Background checks, where conducted, comply with all applicable laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and any state or local ban-the-box regulations.

Current open positions at Union News are listed on our Careers page at unionnews.net/careers. All applications are reviewed and considered equally.

5. Workplace Harassment Prevention

UnionNews LLC has zero tolerance for harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, racial harassment, bullying, intimidation, and any other conduct that creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work environment. All employees, contractors, interns, and volunteers are expected to treat one another with professionalism and respect at all times.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Unwelcome verbal conduct such as epithets, slurs, derogatory comments, or jokes based on a protected characteristic.
• Unwelcome physical conduct such as assault, blocking normal movement, or inappropriate physical contact.
• Unwelcome visual conduct such as displaying derogatory posters, cartoons, emails, or images.
• Threats, intimidation, or retaliation against any individual for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation.
• Sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

6. Reporting Discrimination or Harassment

Any employee, contractor, job applicant, or platform user who believes they have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or a violation of this Equal Opportunity Policy is encouraged to report the matter promptly. Reports can be made through the following channels:

• Email: jesse.croasmun@gmail.com (subject line: "Equal Opportunity Report")
• Phone: 412-515-4178
• In writing to: UnionNews LLC, Pittsburgh, PA

All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated promptly and thoroughly. Investigations are conducted with discretion, and information is shared only on a need-to-know basis. UnionNews LLC will take appropriate corrective action if a violation is found to have occurred, up to and including termination of employment or removal from the platform.

7. Non-Retaliation

UnionNews LLC strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports a concern under this policy, participates in an investigation, or exercises their rights under applicable equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, adverse employment actions, demotion, termination, reduction in pay or hours, exclusion from opportunities, or hostile treatment directed at an individual because of their good-faith report or participation in an investigation. Any person found to have engaged in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

8. Accommodations

UnionNews LLC provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job or to participate in the application and hiring process. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, modifications to the work environment, adjusted work schedules, assistive technology, or other changes that allow an individual to perform their role effectively.

To request an accommodation, please contact jesse.croasmun@gmail.com with a description of the accommodation needed and any relevant supporting documentation. Accommodation requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process between the individual and UnionNews LLC. We are committed to providing accommodations that are effective and reasonable, without imposing an undue hardship on the organization.

For platform users with disabilities, please refer to our Accessibility Policy at unionnews.net/accessibility for information on digital accessibility features and how to request accommodations for accessing Union News services.

9. Training and Education

UnionNews LLC provides ongoing training and education to all employees and team members on topics related to equal opportunity, diversity, inclusion, harassment prevention, and unconscious bias. Training is provided during onboarding and periodically thereafter to ensure that all team members understand their rights and responsibilities under this policy. We also encourage open conversations about diversity and inclusion as a regular part of our organizational culture.

10. Compliance with Applicable Laws

This Equal Opportunity Policy is designed to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination, including but not limited to:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• The Equal Pay Act
• The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
• The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
• Applicable local ordinances in Pittsburgh, PA and Allegheny County

In the event that any provision of this policy conflicts with applicable law, the applicable law shall govern.

11. Policy Updates

UnionNews LLC reserves the right to update or modify this Equal Opportunity Policy at any time to reflect changes in law, organizational practices, or community needs. Changes will be posted to this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Employees will be notified of material changes through internal communications.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Equal Opportunity Policy, wish to report a concern, or need to request an accommodation, please contact us at:

• Email: jesse.croasmun@gmail.com
• Phone: 412-515-4178
• Address: UnionNews LLC, Pittsburgh, PA