Catapult Books to Cease Operations on October 30
The publisher plans to close its doors following a company asset sale, leaving 25 employees without continued employment.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Unions
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Catapult Books will officially cease all operations on October 30, 2026, following a planned sale of its company assets. The transition means that the publisher's current 25 employees will not be retained by the prospective buyer.
Why it matters
The closure arrives as the company's 20-person union unit, which voted to join UAW Local 2110 in June 2026, negotiates a separation agreement. The shutdown marks the end of a publisher that has operated since 2015 and previously merged with Counterpoint Press.
The publishing house currently lists 25 employees, including 20 staff members represented by the UAW Local 2110. Despite the closure, there are 16 frontlist titles currently scheduled for publication in the spring of 2027.
The players
Catapult Books
This publishing company was established in 2015 and serves as an independent publisher of fiction and nonfiction.
UAW Local 2110
This labor union represents clerical, technical, and professional workers across various publishing and educational organizations.
The details
The upcoming sale encompasses only the company assets, effectively excluding staff from continued employment. The publisher previously shuttered its online magazine and writing-classes program, which formerly served 15,000 students, in early 2023.
Timeline
Catapult Books was founded in 2015.
The company merged with Counterpoint Press in 2016.
The online magazine and writing program closed in early 2023.
Employees voted to join UAW Local 2110 in June 2026.
Operations are expected to end October 30, 2026.
Political Context
The move to cease operations has drawn scrutiny from labor organizers who argue the timing of the sale undermines the recent unionization efforts. These advocates emphasize that the sudden dissolution creates significant uncertainty for the workforce and the collective bargaining process.
Employees at the company will face immediate impacts to their job security as the asset sale does not include provisions for continued employment. Readers should note that while the business is closing, the publisher's existing slate of 16 titles for spring 2027 remains in the pipeline.
The takeaway
Workers navigating corporate asset sales should engage legal counsel early to understand how separation agreements may protect their interests. This situation highlights the importance of clarifying employment status immediately when an organization announces a shift in ownership.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding labor organizations in the publishing sector, visit the United States Unions page.
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