NewsGuild Challenges New York Times on Hybrid Work Policies and Job Exclusions from Union Health Fund
Former Education Department press secretary Angela Morabito criticizes the National Education Association’s vow to fight I.C.E. and more on The Bottom Line.
FIRST ON FOX — The NewsGuild of New York is expressing frustration with The New York Times leadership.
The Times Guild Bargaining Committee recently sent out a newsletter to staffers outlining the latest developments in labor negotiations. The Guild highlighted its efforts to eliminate the two-tier system that The New York Times has established, which it claims unjustly excludes certain jobs and workers from the Times Guild. The company has proposed ending all hybrid work guarantees by March 1, 2027.
“At that point, they would have the right to require us to work in the office five days a week and to eliminate our contractually guaranteed three weeks of remote work per year,” the Guild stated in an email obtained by Fox News Digital. “As we saw this fall: If the company can reduce our guaranteed remote-work days, they will. However, when we asked for data on how in-office work improves our news product, advertising, and business operations, management remained silent.”
JONATHAN TURLEY: NY TIMES COLUMNIST SINKS TO SICK NEW LOW MOCKING JD VANCE’S MOM
The NewsGuild of New York and The New York Times leadership held a bargaining session on Tuesday. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We made a significant effort to end the two-tier system that The New York Times has created by excluding certain jobs from the Times Guild,” the Times Guild Bargaining Committee continued. “We asked the company to recognize over 50 of our colleagues’ rightful place in our bargaining unit, as they work alongside us as members of the Times Guild.” The Guild emphasizes that keeping union work within the union is a core priority.
The Guild argues that roles such as audio engineers, puzzle editors, audience and SEO editors, and bureau chiefs across the country should receive the same protections and benefits outlined in their union contract. These include annual raises, job protections, overtime compensation, and minimum salaries for each position.
“One of our five core priorities for this contract campaign is to ensure that union work remains within our union. The exclusion of these jobs has created a two-tier system of pay and benefits,” the Guild stated.
The Times Guild Bargaining Committee sent staffers a newsletter on Tuesday detailing the latest labor negotiations. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Guild has proposed that the Times provide 30 days’ notice when creating new jobs, regardless of whether they fall under the Guild’s jurisdiction. Additionally, any disputes regarding newly created positions should be referred to expedited arbitration.
The Guild is also requesting detailed descriptions of new job duties, responsibilities, classifications, and effective dates. They want it clearly stated that open positions are Guild-represented when posted, and they seek 30 days’ notice for any transfers of current Guild members to excluded positions.
“We received the company’s responses to our requests regarding several core issues, including badge-swipe surveillance for in-office expectations and the use of artificial intelligence,” the Times Guild Bargaining Committee noted. “Unfortunately, management declined to respond in detail, labeling our questions as ‘overly broad’ and ‘not relevant.’”
DHS LASHES OUT AT NY TIMES AFTER REPORT CLAIMING PREGNANT WOMEN IN MINNEAPOLIS ‘HIDING FROM ICE’
Members of the Times Tech Guild picket outside the New York Times headquarters in New York on Nov. 4, 2024. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Guild also informed its members that the Times has updated its proposal for financing the health fund but dismissed concerns that it would lead to bankruptcy. “We understand that. It still goes back to cost-sharing and responsibility,” Times Executive Director for Labor Relations Chris Biegner stated in the newsletter.
In response to the Guild’s performance evaluation proposal, management rejected several suggested changes, including exemptions for employees who take leave and transparency regarding who contributes to evaluations.
The next bargaining session is set for February 18, with the current contract expiring at the end of the month.
The Guild proposed that the Times should give the Guild 30 days’ notice when creating a new job, regardless of its jurisdiction.
When contacted for comment, The New York Times provided Fox News Digital with internal notes from managing editors Marc Lacey and Carolyn Ryan. In January, they described the negotiations as “productive,” but expressed concern over the focus on staffers outside the Guild.
The Athletic, a separate entity owned by the Times, has become a contentious issue. “The Guild indicated they would not accept any contract terms that don’t cover The Athletic joining the New York Times newsroom bargaining unit,” Lacey and Ryan noted. “We fear that this condition undermines the path to a good deal.” They reiterated the company’s willingness to recognize unionization for Athletic employees as a separate unit if they choose to pursue it.
Lacey and Ryan emphasized their desire to reach a deal, stating, “We don’t think we should hold up a new contract and higher salaries for 1,500 Times Guild employees because of a demand to incorporate employees from an entirely separate newsroom.”
The Athletic publisher David Perpich has previously stated that he believes the best approach is for The Athletic’s journalists to form a separate bargaining unit within the NewsGuild, rather than being absorbed into the Times unit.
Former Education Department press secretary Angela Morabito criticizes the National Education Association’s vow to fight I.C.E. and more on The Bottom Line.
FIRST ON FOX — The NewsGuild of New York is expressing frustration with The New York Times leadership.
The Times Guild Bargaining Committee recently sent out a newsletter to staffers outlining the latest developments in labor negotiations. The Guild highlighted its efforts to eliminate the two-tier system that The New York Times has established, which it claims unjustly excludes certain jobs and workers from the Times Guild. The company has proposed ending all hybrid work guarantees by March 1, 2027.
“At that point, they would have the right to require us to work in the office five days a week and to eliminate our contractually guaranteed three weeks of remote work per year,” the Guild stated in an email obtained by Fox News Digital. “As we saw this fall: If the company can reduce our guaranteed remote-work days, they will. However, when we asked for data on how in-office work improves our news product, advertising, and business operations, management remained silent.”
JONATHAN TURLEY: NY TIMES COLUMNIST SINKS TO SICK NEW LOW MOCKING JD VANCE’S MOM
The NewsGuild of New York and The New York Times leadership held a bargaining session on Tuesday. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We made a significant effort to end the two-tier system that The New York Times has created by excluding certain jobs from the Times Guild,” the Times Guild Bargaining Committee continued. “We asked the company to recognize over 50 of our colleagues’ rightful place in our bargaining unit, as they work alongside us as members of the Times Guild.” The Guild emphasizes that keeping union work within the union is a core priority.
The Guild argues that roles such as audio engineers, puzzle editors, audience and SEO editors, and bureau chiefs across the country should receive the same protections and benefits outlined in their union contract. These include annual raises, job protections, overtime compensation, and minimum salaries for each position.
“One of our five core priorities for this contract campaign is to ensure that union work remains within our union. The exclusion of these jobs has created a two-tier system of pay and benefits,” the Guild stated.
The Times Guild Bargaining Committee sent staffers a newsletter on Tuesday detailing the latest labor negotiations. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Guild has proposed that the Times provide 30 days’ notice when creating new jobs, regardless of whether they fall under the Guild’s jurisdiction. Additionally, any disputes regarding newly created positions should be referred to expedited arbitration.
The Guild is also requesting detailed descriptions of new job duties, responsibilities, classifications, and effective dates. They want it clearly stated that open positions are Guild-represented when posted, and they seek 30 days’ notice for any transfers of current Guild members to excluded positions.
“We received the company’s responses to our requests regarding several core issues, including badge-swipe surveillance for in-office expectations and the use of artificial intelligence,” the Times Guild Bargaining Committee noted. “Unfortunately, management declined to respond in detail, labeling our questions as ‘overly broad’ and ‘not relevant.’”
DHS LASHES OUT AT NY TIMES AFTER REPORT CLAIMING PREGNANT WOMEN IN MINNEAPOLIS ‘HIDING FROM ICE’
Members of the Times Tech Guild picket outside the New York Times headquarters in New York on Nov. 4, 2024. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Guild also informed its members that the Times has updated its proposal for financing the health fund but dismissed concerns that it would lead to bankruptcy. “We understand that. It still goes back to cost-sharing and responsibility,” Times Executive Director for Labor Relations Chris Biegner stated in the newsletter.
In response to the Guild’s performance evaluation proposal, management rejected several suggested changes, including exemptions for employees who take leave and transparency regarding who contributes to evaluations.
The next bargaining session is set for February 18, with the current contract expiring at the end of the month.
The Guild proposed that the Times should give the Guild 30 days’ notice when creating a new job, regardless of its jurisdiction.
When contacted for comment, The New York Times provided Fox News Digital with internal notes from managing editors Marc Lacey and Carolyn Ryan. In January, they described the negotiations as “productive,” but expressed concern over the focus on staffers outside the Guild.
The Athletic, a separate entity owned by the Times, has become a contentious issue. “The Guild indicated they would not accept any contract terms that don’t cover The Athletic joining the New York Times newsroom bargaining unit,” Lacey and Ryan noted. “We fear that this condition undermines the path to a good deal.” They reiterated the company’s willingness to recognize unionization for Athletic employees as a separate unit if they choose to pursue it.
Lacey and Ryan emphasized their desire to reach a deal, stating, “We don’t think we should hold up a new contract and higher salaries for 1,500 Times Guild employees because of a demand to incorporate employees from an entirely separate newsroom.”
The Athletic publisher David Perpich has previously stated that he believes the best approach is for The Athletic’s journalists to form a separate bargaining unit within the NewsGuild, rather than being absorbed into the Times unit.
