The New York Times Guild members have staged a 24 hour walkout on Thursday (Picture: AP)
New York Times union members are asking readers not to cross the digital picket line as they stage a 24-hour strike, the first of its kind at the paper in over 40 years.
About 1,100 journalists, news assistants, tech workers, and other employees are walking out today in an effort to secure a better contract with the paper’s management.
The New York Times Guild is asking loyal readers to avoid visiting the site, reading the paper’s newsletter, or listening to its flagship podcast, ‘The Daily’ on December 8, 2022.
‘It’s never an easy decision to refuse to do work you love, but our members are willing to do what it takes to win a better newsroom for all,’ the union stated on Twitter.
In addition to news stories, the union is asking readers to avoid some of the paper’s other popular products, including the popular game Wordle, the cooking and recipes database, and the daily crossword puzzle.
‘Read local news. Listen to public radio. Make something from a cookbook. Break your Wordle streak,’ Times Guild members have repeated on Twitter.
The strike action went into effect at 12.01am on December 8, and is scheduled to end by December 9.
Union members are hoping the strike will jump start contract negotiations with the paper’s management. Talks began after their previous contract expired in March 2021.
But negotiations have stalled for months as the company has refused to budge on issues of remote work and guaranteed pay increases. Union negotiators said management walked away from the bargaining table five hours before the strike began.
‘Notably, the company can certainly afford to invest in its employees, despite management’s fearmongering,’ the Guild said in an open letter to Times readers. ‘The company is on track for an annual operating profit of at least $320million, and has approved $150million in stock buybacks to investors.’
A spokesperson for the New York Times said the paper would continue producing content during the strike, relying instead on international reporters and non-unionized employees.
Times Guild members have scheduled a protest at 1pm outside the paper’s headquarters in Times Square with other union members from NewsGuild of New York, which also represents workers from Reuters, Conde Nast, NBC, and other newsrooms.
Other unions have announced support for the strike, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 804, which represents delivery and warehouse employees in New York City, including for major shipping firms like UPS.
The teamsters announced they would not break the picket line and deliver to the New York Times building.
The strike has also received recognition from elected officials in the city.
‘Let us stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are walking off the job in protest to make sure they earn the wages they deserve,’ New York City Representative Jamaal Bowman said in a video message. ‘Tell your friends: do not consume your news from the New York Times tomorrow, go get it from somewhere else.’
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In addition to news stories, the union is asking readers to avoid some of the paper’s other popular products, including the popular game Wordle, the cooking and recipes database, and the daily crossword puzzle.
