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Hundreds Of New York Times Staffers Go On Strike Just Before Election Day

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2 months ago

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The New York Times Tech Guild, which represents hundreds of the newspaper’s tech staffers, went on strike just 24 hours before Election Day, potentially jeopardizing the outlet’s popular election ticker.

According to a statement released by the guild, workers will be protesting outside The Times’ Manhattan headquarters on a daily basis starting at 9 a.m., Eastern Time. The planned walkout came after a September 10 vote to go on strike during election week if their demands were not met.

The strike comes as interest in the election peaks, representing a major issue for the newspaper, which boasts the largest number of online subscribers among American newspapers.

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According to an article released by the outlet, the guild’s 600 members are responsible for operating the outlet’s back-end systems that power the paper’s digital operations. Guild members work in Engineering, Product, Design, Data and the project management office.

The New York Times has garnered a reputation as a go-to source for election results in the digital era, which could now be in jeopardy if the strike is not resolved within 24 hours.

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The two sides negotiated until late Sunday, though major sticking points in recent days over whether employees could secure a “just cause” provision in their contract, which means workers could only be terminated misconduct for misconduct or related offenses, kept a deal from getting done. Guild workers are also demanding pay increases and “pay equity,” while return-to-office policies have also become a major hang-up.

“Times management said in an email to workers on Sunday that it had offered a 2.5 percent annual wage increase, a minimum 5 percent pay increase for promotions and a $1,000 ratification bonus. It also said that the company would maintain its current in-office work requirements of two days a week through June 2025, while allowing employees to work fully remotely for three weeks per year,” the New York Times reported.

Unsatisfied with the state of negotiations, the guild announced that workers would be going on strike starting Monday. “They have left us no choice but to demonstrate the power of our labor on the picket line,” Kathy Zhang, the guild’s unit chair, said in the statement. “Nevertheless, we stand ready to bargain and get this contract across the finish line.”

During a rally last week, one guild worker called on The Times to stop “dragging its feet” and guaranteed a strike if they did not “get their sh** together.”

“Our work that all of us in the Tech Guild do is as human and as directly powered by our labor as the work of our co-workers in the newsroom,” he said.

If the strike persists, the outlet’s famous “election needle,” which provides real-time updates on any given candidate’s chances of victory as results come in, could be inoperable during the pivotal election. An extended strike will also affect the performance of app notifications, push alerts, and other digital mechanisms.

In a statement to Fox News, the Times stated that it is “disappointed” with the timing of the strike.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Tech Guild to reach a fair contract that takes into account that they are already among the highest paid individual contributors in the Company and journalism is our top priority,” spokesperson Danielle Rhoades-Ha said. “We’re in one of the most consequential periods of coverage for our readers and have robust plans in place to ensure that we are able to fulfill our mission and serve our readers. While we respect the union’s right to engage in protected actions, we’re disappointed that colleagues would strike at this time, which is both unnecessary and at odds with our mission.”

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