The New York Times is bracing for a 24-hour walkout Thursday by a whole lot of journalists and different staff, in what can be the primary strike of its variety on the newspaper in additional than 40 years.
Newsroom staff and different members of The NewsGuild of New York say they’re fed up with bargaining that has dragged on since their final contract expired in March 2021. The union introduced final week that greater than 1,100 staff would stage a 24-hour work stoppage beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday except the 2 sides attain a contract deal.
Negotiations lasted for greater than 12 hours into late Tuesday and continued Wednesday, however the sides remained far aside on points together with wage will increase and remote-work insurance policies.
“It’s looking very likely that we are walking on Thursday,” mentioned Stacy Cowley, a finance reporter and union consultant. “There is still a pretty wide gulf between us on both economic and a number of issues.”
“Solid plans in place” in occasion of strike
It was unclear how the day’s protection can be affected, however the strike’s supporters embody members of the fast-paced live-news desk, which covers breaking news for the digital paper. Employees are planning a rally for Thursday afternoon exterior the newspaper’s workplaces close to Times Square.
New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha informed The Associated Press that the corporate has “solid plans in place” to proceed producing content material, together with counting on worldwide reporters and different journalists who usually are not union members.
“While we are disappointed that the NewsGuild is threatening to strike, we are prepared to ensure The Times continues to serve our readers without disruption,” Rhoades Ha mentioned in separate assertion.
In a be aware despatched to Guild-represented workers Tuesday evening, Deputy Managing Editor Cliff Levy known as the deliberate strike “puzzling” and “an unsettling moment in negotiations over a new contract.” He mentioned it could be the primary strike by the bargaining unit since 1981 and “comes despite intensifying efforts by the company to make progress.”
Union: Management “dragging its feet”
But in a letter signed by greater than 1,000 staff, the NewsGuild mentioned administration has been “dragging its feet” bargaining for almost two years and “time is running out to reach a fair contract” by the top of the 12 months.
The NewsGuild additionally mentioned the corporate informed staff planning to strike they’d not receives a commission in the course of the walkout. Members have been additionally requested to work further hours to get work finished forward of the strike, in keeping with the union.
The New York Times has seen different, shorter walkouts lately, together with a half-day protest in August by a brand new union representing know-how employees who claimed unfair labor practices.
Pension plan preserved
In one breakthrough that either side known as important, the corporate backed off its proposal to exchange the prevailing adjustable pension plan with an enhanced 401(okay) retirement plan. The Times supplied as an alternative to let the union select between the 2. The firm additionally agreed to broaden fertility therapy advantages.
Levy mentioned the corporate has additionally supplied to boost wages by 5.5% upon ratification of the contract, adopted by 3% will increase in 2023 and 2024. That can be a rise from the two.2% annual will increase within the expired contract.
Cowley mentioned the union is seeing 10% pay raises at ratification, which she mentioned would make up for the pay raises not obtained over the previous two years.
She additionally mentioned the union desires the contract to ensure staff the choice to work remotely a number of the time, if their roles permit for it, however the firm desires proper to recall employees to the workplace full time. Cowley mentioned the Times has required its workers to be in workplace three days every week however many have been displaying up fewer days in an off-the-cuff protest.