New York
CNN business
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A historic demonstration expected to involve more than 1,100 employees, a 24-hour strike at The New York Times began at midnight Thursday. A year and a half in negotiations.
Meredith Kopit-Levien said, “Given our clear commitment to negotiate towards contracts that will provide The Times journalists with significant salary increases, market-leading benefits and flexible working conditions, we believe that they “It’s disappointing that we are taking such drastic action,” the president and chief executive officer of The Times said in an email to the company Wednesday night.
The News Guild of New York, which represents The Times journalists and other staff, said in a statement that the strike “is a result of companies negotiating in good faith, reaching fair contractual agreements with workers, and meeting their demands.” because they weren’t
Decades of unstaged protests by the newspaper’s employees of record have depleted staff at many of its key desks, challenging the news agency on which millions of readers depend. brings
A Times executive, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that the work stoppage would certainly create difficulties. He said the newspaper could rely on other resources, such as international staff not part of the union, to fill the void.
Joe Kahn, executive editor of The Times, said in a note to staff: But it will always be harder. ”
Kopit Levien said in an email to the company that the Times “plans to ensure that it does its duty to its readers and the general public by reporting the news as completely as possible through any disruption caused by the strike.” ,” he added.
However, several staffers at The Times on Wednesday urged readers not to consume the outlet’s content during the strike.
“We ask our readers not to get involved in anything. [New York Times] Join us on the platform tomorrow and stand up with us on the Digital Picket line!” wrote critic Amanda Hess on Twitter. She said, “Read local news. Listen to public radio. Make something out of a cookbook. Break your Wordle streak.”
Dozens of union members signed picket signs, handed out pamphlets and demanded better wages at a rally outside the Times Square offices on Thursday afternoon.
“We make paper and make a profit!” cried the crowd.
The strike comes at a time when the Gray Lady and New York’s News Guild continue to tussle over many issues, especially wages, against the backdrop of layoffs and job cuts across the media industry.
In recent weeks, CNN has laid off hundreds of staff, newspaper chain Gannett has cut 200 employees, NPR said it would need to save $10 million, and other news outlets have cut budgets. We explored the need to cut back and freeze hiring.
The Times claimed to have offered the Guild a “substantial price increase”, but the union countered that the newspaper’s management “often misrepresented their proposals”.
The Union Times, a newsletter published by the NewsGuild, described The Times’ wage concessions on Wednesday as “insignificant” and said management was “barely shaken” over the matter.
The parties have been in negotiations since their last contract expired in March 2021. Last Friday, the NewsGuild informed The Times of his plans to strike. This is a move aimed at putting pressure on management to offer additional concessions in negotiations.
The union asked The Times to meet with him midway through the wage increase, but the newspaper believes it would be impossible to do so because the union started from an extreme position.
Both sides have worked throughout the week to avoid a 24-hour strike. But it was in vain.
The Times management has been frustrated with the way the NewsGuild has attempted to negotiate, blaming some of the lack of progress in negotiations.
“They refuse to meet in person,” an executive told CNN. “It’s a really important point. I can’t stress it enough. We’re talking on Zoom. There’s about eight of him from management, 18 of him on the negotiating committee from NewsGuild, and he is watched over by 200 members as ‘observers’. ”
“The negotiations are inherently open,” the executive continued. “And it changes the whole dynamic of negotiations. It becomes very performative and very theatrical. It’s really hard to get things done. It’s like a show. We need to negotiate.”
Newsguild of New York President Susan DeCaraba responded by saying, “Union democracy is vital to union strength. That’s why we’re not having the behind-the-scenes negotiations that management continues to demand.” Hmm.”
“All members affected by decisions taken at the negotiating table should be involved in those discussions,” the representative added. “When the Times management comes to the negotiating table with an insulting and disrespectful offer, they have to explain it to a room full of their own employees, and they hate it. The result of public action by management is a strong strike tomorrow.”
