The New York Times is bracing for a 24 hour walkout on Thursday by hundreds of journalists and other employees, in what would be the first strike of its kind at the newspaper in more than 40 years.
Newsroom employees and other members of the NewsGuild of New YorkNewsGuild of New York say they are fed up with the bargaining that has dragged on since their last contract expired in March 2021. The union announced last week that more than 1,100 employees would stage a 24 hour work stoppage starting at 12.01 am on Thursday if the two sides don't reach a contract deal.
Negotiations lasted more than 12 hours into late Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, but the sides were far apart on issues such as wage increases and remote-work policies.
Stacy Cowley, a finance reporter and union representative, said it was looking very likely that we will be walking on Thursday. There is still a lot of a gulf between us on economic issues and a number of other issues. It was not known how the day would be affected, but the strike's supporters include members of the fast-paced live-news desk, which covers breaking news for the digital paper. Employees are planning a rally for Thursday afternoon outside the newspaper's offices near Times Square.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, a New York Times spokesman, told the New York Times that the company had solid plans in place to continue producing content, including relying on international reporters and other journalists who are not union members.
While we are disappointed that the NewsGuild is threatening to strike, we are prepared to make sure that the Times continues to serve our readers without disruption, Rhoades Ha said in a separate statement.
In a letter signed by more than 1,000 employees Tuesday night, the deputy managing editor Cliff Levy called the planned strike puzzling and an unsettling moment in the negotiations over a new contract. The NewsGuild said management had been dragging its feet for nearly two years and time is running out to reach a fair contract by the end of the year.
The NewsGuild said the company told employees that they would not get paid for the duration of the strike. The union said members were asked to work extra hours in order to get work done ahead of the strike.
The New York Times has seen other, shorter walkouts in recent years, including a half-day protest by a new union representing technology workers who claimed unfair labor practices.
In one major breakthrough both sides called significant, the company backed off its proposal to replace the existing adjustable pension plan with an enhanced 401 k retirement plan. The Times offered to let the union choose between the two. The fertility treatment benefits are being expanded by the company.
Levy said that the company had offered to raise wages by 5.5% upon ratification of the contract, followed by 3% increases in 2023 and 2024. That would be an increase from the 2.2% annual increases in the expired contract.
Cowley said the union was seeking 10% pay raises at ratification, which she said would make up for the pay raises that have not been received over the past two years.
She said that the union wanted to give employees the option to work remotely if their roles allow for it, but they also wanted to recall workers to the office full time. Cowley said the Times required its staff to be in office three days a week but many have been showing up fewer days in an informal protest.