Some New York Times Employees Will Go On Strike For 24 Hours

The CEO of the New York Times sent an email to all employees confirming that members of the NewsGuild will stroke for 24 hours on Thursday.

That'll show 'em.

According to Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien's email, the NewsGuild represents newsroom employees as well as some working in advertising and other areas.

"This will be the bargaining unit's first strike in more than 40 years. It's disappointing that they're taking such drastic action, given the clear commitment we've shown to negotiate our way
to a contract that provides Times journalists with substantial pay increases, market-leading benefits, and flexible working conditions," Levien wrote.

The Times CEO talked about how she wants to see employees receive a deal that "recognizes and rewards their work." At the same time, she acknowledged that doing this was tied to the company's financial success.

Levien mentioned that 40% of the company's profits come from print — which as most people are well aware — is on the decline.

She also touched on the company's plans to continue to "meet our obligation to our readers and the general public by reporting the news as fully as possible through any disruption caused by a strike."

So from the sound of it, the Times is prepared to go about their Thursday as per usual while their staffers stand outside with picket signs.

That's not what you want to hear when you're trying to get some leverage in contract negotiations.

The Guild Released A Statement of Its Own

The NewsGuild released a statement on Wednesday as well.

Their statement confirmed that 1,000 Times employees will walk off the job on Thursday. This comes after they signed a walkout pledge last week.

Guild members also asked for the public's support during the strike... on the "digital picket line."

That just sounds like they don't want people to read The New York Times.

If that's the case, many of us are veterans of the digital picket line.

The tension between NewsGuild and New York Times management comes after 20 months of failed negotiations.

This isn't the first time the Guild has gone on strike. They struck in 1965 for several days and again in 1981 for 6-and-a-half hours.

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