— New York On Thursday, hundreds of journalists and other staff at The New York Times launched a 24-hour walkout, the first strike of its sort at the newspaper in almost four decades.
Since their previous contract expired in March 2021, newsroom staffers and other members of The NewsGuild of New York have grown weary of the drawn-out negotiations. The union said last week that more than 1,100 employees will begin a 24-hour work stoppage at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday if a contract agreement is not reached by that time.
The NewsGuild tweeted on Thursday morning that employees had been fired “are now formally on strike, the first strike of this magnitude at the firm in forty years. It is never easy to turn down work you enjoy, but our members are prepared to do whatever it takes to create a better newsroom for everyone.”
The parties engaged in negotiations on Tuesday and a portion of Wednesday, but they remained far apart on matters such as salary hikes and remote-work restrictions.
Wednesday evening, the union announced through Twitter that no agreement had been reached and that a strike was occurring. It stated, “We were willing to work for as long as it took to establish a fair agreement, but management left the table with five hours remaining.”
“We understand our value,” the union stated.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesman for the New York Times, stated in a statement that they were still in discussions when they learned about the strike.
She stated, “It is regrettable that they are taking such an extreme measure when we are not at an impasse.”
It was unclear how Thursday’s coverage would be affected, but supporters of the strike included members of the digital newspaper’s live–news desk, which covers breaking news. Employees planned a protest for the afternoon outside the newspaper’s Times Square offices.
Rhoades Ha told The Associated Press that the firm had “strong plans” to continue creating news, including depending on non-unionized overseas correspondents and other journalists.
In a statement issued to guild-represented employees on Tuesday night, Deputy Managing Editor Cliff Levy referred to the planned strike as “puzzling” and “an uneasy point in contract discussions.” It would be the first strike by the bargaining unit since 1981, despite the company’s intensified attempts to make headway, he added.
The NewsGuild, however, stated in a statement signed by more than 1,000 employees that management has been “dragging its feet” during negotiations for over two years and that “time is running out” to achieve a fair deal before the end of the year.
The NewsGuild also said that the corporation informed employees who planned to strike that they would not be compensated for the length of the strike. According to the union, members were also ordered to work longer hours to complete tasks prior to the strike.
Other, shorter walkouts have occurred at The New York Times in recent years, including a half-day demonstration in August by a new union representing technology employees who claimed unfair labor practices.
Significantly, the corporation withdrew its intention to replace the current variable pension scheme with an expanded 401(k) retirement plan. The Times instead proposed that the union select between the two alternatives. Additionally, the corporation agreed to increase fertility therapy coverage.
Levy stated that the corporation has also proposed a 5.5% salary increase upon contract approval, followed by 3% increases in 2023 and 2024. This would be an increase from the annual raises of 2.2% under the expiring contract.
Stacy Cowley, a financial reporter and union representative, stated that the union is seeking 10% salary hikes at ratification to make up for the two years of missed wages.
She said that the union wants the contract to give employees the opportunity to work remotely a portion of the time if their positions permit it, but the firm wants the ability to recall individuals to the office full time. Cowley stated that the Times requires its employees to be in the office three days per week, but many have started turning up less often as a kind of informal protest.
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