Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Nine months after voting to organize a union, journalists at LNP | LancasterOnline and public radio partner WITF in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, overwhelmingly ratified their first union contract.

“For an employer of this size to make these improvements and make their employees’ lives better says a lot about Pennon [LNP’s owner],” said Bill Ross, executive director of The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia. “They didn’t talk about finances (during negotiations). They didn’t cry the blues. They listened and put money on the table, even severance pay.”

The contract includes a health plan that offers substantially lower deductibles and monthly premiums; a minimum salary of $50,700 for full-time employees; a 3% pay increase in July for all members; a $1,000 signing bonus; 12 weeks of parental leave at 75% pay; and one week of severance pay for every year of service, up to eight weeks.

“As a 40-year employee of the company, I never thought I’d see this happen,” said social media creator Claudia Esbenshade. “The staff works hard to bring the news of Lancaster to its readers, and this contract can make many of them feel more secure in their positions, pay and benefits.”