NY Times Tech Workers Vote to Authorize a STRIKE

On September 10th the Times Tech Guild—which includes software engineers, product managers, data analysts, and designers at The New York Times, members of The NewsGuild-CWA—voted overwhelmingly to STRIKE if the company cannot come to a fair agreement.

The timing of the strike authorization vote, just over 40 days before the presidential election, is no accident. Roughly half of Times Tech Guild members in the bargaining unit work on programs critical to election coverage, making them essential workers in this major election season. Among their biggest priorities for their contract are pay equity, work-life balance, just cause for termination, and respect on the job. Unfortunately, despite record profits being raked in by the media giant, The New York Times is offering meager 1% annual raises to the tech workers who keep the publication running.

“We are sending Times management a strong message with our vote today,” said Kathy Zhang, a Senior Analytics Manager at The New York Times and unit chair of the Tech Guild. “Our work produces incredible value in this company. Our members have earned a fair contract, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to make sure we get it.”