Politico Denies Unionizing Effort Was Behind Reporter's Departure

Source: Huffington Post

Michael Calderone

NEW YORK -- Politico confirmed Thursday that labor reporter Mike Elk is no longer with the company and said his efforts to unionize the newsroom were not the reason for his departure in a statement provided to The Huffington Post.

"Mike Elk no longer works at POLITICO," the statement read. "As a long-standing company policy, we do not and will not comment on the specifics of personnel matters. We can say that Mike Elk's recent departure has nothing to do with his union activities. POLITICO employees have been, and continue to be, free to engage in or refrain from union activities."

The Huffington Post reported Monday that Elk appeared to no longer work at Politico, though the reporter did not confirm his status with the company. "I’m a union organizer," Elk said at the time. "I’m going to go wherever digital media workers need to unionize. I’m going to do whatever I can. The story really isn’t about me."

Bruce Jett, a Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild representative handling questions for Elk, released a statement Thursday claiming the reporter was still employed at Politico.

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