Angry tech workers at The New York Times are threatening to strike on Election Day unless bosses meet their long list of outlandish demands.
Union members’ requests include a four-day workweek for a pay increase, unlimited sick leave and rest time, and paid time off for pet loss. Traffic light information.
Employees are also demanding warnings about discussing the news, a ban on scented products in break rooms and job security for foreign employees with visas in the event of layoffs.
Last week, the Times Tech Guild’s vote to authorize the strike passed with 95 percent approval. About half of the union’s members cover programs critical to the election.
The union, which represents about 600 technical staff at The Times, said the timing of the strike was “not accidental” and was designed to cause maximum disruption.
New York Times tech union workers threaten to strike on Election Day unless bosses meet their long list of demands
The dispute has continued for the past two years, with the NYT claiming that some of the union’s more than 60 proposals in that time could violate labor laws.
The average union member earns $190,000 a year, including salary, bonuses and restricted stock options.
Times Chairman A.G. Sulzberger argued that the suit would cost the paper more than $100 million over the proposed three-year contract.
Danielle Rhoads Ha, a spokeswoman for the outlet, told DailyMail.com that many of the claims are atypical of collective bargaining agreements.
‘Since July 2022, bargaining has focused on a wide range of non-economic TechGuild proposals, such as pet bereavement leave, fragrance-free cleaning products, and a ban on machine learning, among many other issues not typically part of collective bargaining agreements,’ she said.
‘The TechGuild recently submitted its financial proposals. We look forward to working with the group to reach a fair contract, one that takes into account that they are already among the highest paid workers in the company and that journalism is our top priority.’
The average salary for a tech worker at the NYT is about $40,000 more than that of their editorial colleagues, according to the outlet.
The Times Tech Guild, headed by president Kathy Zhang, is demanding a four-day workweek, unlimited sick leave and job security in the face of advances in artificial intelligence, among other things.
The company also highlighted several benefits already in place, including surrogacy and fertility funds, taxi rides home and wellness programs.
But union members say they are still underpaid compared to industry standards.
“Times management likes to compare journalists to the Tech Guild only when it suits them,” a Tech Guild spokesperson told Semafor.
‘In terms of salaries, wages vary widely between the two unions, but we are happy to discuss executive compensation in relation to Times workers.’
The spokesperson added that the union is seeking assurances that workers will be protected from the incursion of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The union also wants negotiations to focus on addressing the gender pay gap, as well as disparities between white and non-white employees.
However, the NYT claims that the company has found “no evidence of discrimination” following a large-scale audit.
The union told Semafor that it wants the collective agreement to rectify wage disparities between white and non-white employees, as well as between men and women.
Managers at the establishment say their demands are too extravagant and could even violate labour laws.
Rhoades disputed the union’s claim, saying the company conducted a comprehensive analysis and found “no evidence of discrimination.”
“Tech Guild leaders’ claims about gender and racial pay gaps are tied to their methodology, which does not compare pay for employees doing similar work,” Rhoades said.
He also said the union’s proposals to “refuse advertiser-based work” and the “right to request that letters to the editor not be published” should not be part of the collective bargaining agreement.
The paper is reportedly concerned that the union, largely made up of software engineers, is attempting to exert editorial control.
DailyMail.com has contacted the New York Times Tech Guild for comment.
