Journalists at The Arizona Republic on Thursday voted in favor of unionizing the newsroom, capping several weeks of lobbying over issues such as job security, workplace flexibility and pay and benefits.

If the results are certified without challenge, it will start a collective bargaining process in the Phoenix newsroom.

The 64-30 vote was conducted on secret ballots at The Republic’s downtown Phoenix office, under supervision of the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB will take about a week to certify the election if neither side objects.

The vote came against the backdrop of a proposed acquisition of Gannett by GateHouse Media, owned by New Media Investment Group, with shareholders set to vote on that Nov. 14. If shareholders of both companies approve, the deal could close by year's end.

Gannett owns The Arizona Republic, USA TODAY and more than 100 other daily newspapers, websites and other companies in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

“We respect the rights of our employees and their decision, as we have said since the beginning of this effort," Arizona Republic Executive Editor Greg Burton said. "We will move forward and continue serving Arizonans as the leading news organization in the state focusing on our mission — important, revelatory journalism that makes our community a better and richer place to live.”

The Arizona Republic Guild hailed the vote as an historic decision to protect local journalism.

“We have sent a powerful message to Gannett that we expect dignified layoff severance, fair wages and a voice in the decisions that affect our future," said consumer reporter Rebekah Sanders, who joined the newspaper in 2008 and is a member of the organizing committee.

The vote authorizes a new Arizona Republic Guild as a unit of the NewsGuild-CWA to begin contract negotiations over wages, benefits and working conditions, a process that can take years to resolve. The Los Angeles Times Guild voted to organize in January 2018 and is still negotiating a contract with the company.

Union organizers in Phoenix have voiced concern about layoffs and other cost reductions if the GateHouse merger takes effect. In a recent interview with the Boston Business Journal, New Media CEO Mike Reed said newsrooms would mostly be protected during the merger of business operations.

“I can’t give you a percentage, but I’d say mid- to high-90s is away from the newsrooms,” Reed told Boston Business Journal. “A big selling point for both companies on this transaction is, it will better position both companies to preserve their journalism and their newsrooms, because it opens up other areas to make reductions.”

Both sides held meetings with newsroom employees in recent weeks to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of forming a union.

Guild representatives urged a yes union vote to “protect local journalism” and secure a seat at the negotiating table. Management urged a no vote, saying a union environment would stifle flexibility and would not bring the benefits that organizers touted.

The vote for union representation affects only The Arizona Republic newsroom, which produces content for The Republic, azcentral.com and the Spanish-language publication La Voz.

Arizona is a right to work state, which means those who opposed the union can refuse to pay dues, proposed by the Guild as 1.38% of pay per month. Even so, non-supervisory employees in the newsroom will be forced to accept the Guild’s negotiated wages and benefits – even if the contract terms negatively impact them.

Several other Gannett news sites have guilds, including the Detroit Free Press, The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Roughly 100 non-management writers, editors, digital producers, visual journalists and other staff in Phoenix were eligible to vote in Thursday’s election.

The Guild went public with its intention to unionize the newsroom when it announced last month that more than 70% of non-management employees signed union-authorization cards. Burton rejected a request to voluntarily recognize the Guild as the collective bargaining representative for non-supervisory newsroom employees, triggering the election.

Elections are determined by a majority of workers casting votes. Either party can file an objection within seven days of the vote count. The NLRB regional director then issues a ruling, which can be appealed to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.