NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times is bracing for a 24-hour walkout Thursday by tons of 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 befell Tuesday and a few of Wednesday, however the sides remained far aside on points together with wage will increase and remote-work insurance policies.
On Wednesday night the union mentioned by way of Twitter {that a} deal had not been reached and the walkout was taking place. “We were ready to work for as long as it took to reach a fair deal,” it mentioned, “but management walked away from the table with five hours to go.”
“We know what we’re worth,” the union added.
But New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha mentioned in an announcement that they had been nonetheless in negotiations once they had been informed that the strike was taking place.
“It is disappointing that they are taking such an extreme action when we are not at an impasse,” she mentioned.
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It was unclear how Thursday’s protection can be affected, however the strike’s supporters embrace members of the fast-paced live-news desk, which covers breaking news for the digital paper. Employees had been planning a rally for that afternoon outdoors the newspaper’s places of work close to Times Square.
Rhoades Ha informed The Associated Press the corporate has “solid plans in place” to proceed producing content material, together with counting on worldwide reporters and different journalists who are usually not union members.
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 might be the primary strike by the bargaining unit since 1981 and “comes despite intensifying efforts by the company to make progress.”
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 yr.
The NewsGuild additionally mentioned the company told employees planning to strike they might not receives a commission for the length of the walkout. Members had been additionally requested to work further hours get work achieved forward of the strike, based on 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 staff who claimed unfair labor practices.
In one breakthrough that each side known as important, the corporate backed off its proposal to exchange the present adjustable pension plan with an enhanced 401 (ok) retirement plan. The Times supplied as a substitute to let the union select between the 2. The firm additionally agreed to increase fertility therapy advantages.
Levy mentioned the corporate has additionally supplied to boost wages by 5.5 p.c upon ratification of the contract, adopted by 3 p.c hikes in 2023 and 2024. That can be a rise from the two.2 p.c annual will increase within the expired contract.
Stacy Cowley, a finance reporter and union consultant, mentioned the union is in search of 10 p.c pay raises at ratification, which she mentioned would make up for raises not acquired over the previous two years.
She additionally mentioned the union desires the contract to ensure staff the choice to work remotely a few of the time, if their roles enable for it, however the firm desires the fitting to recall staff 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 much less usually in a casual protest.