N.Y. Times’ Wirecutter Union Reaches Deal With Management

(Bloomberg) -- A union representing workers at New York Times Co.’s Wirecutter product-recommendation service said it’s reached a deal with management after a five-day strike over Thanksgiving weekend.

The deal raises salaries immediately by an average of almost $5,000 and guarantees annual increases of 2% to 2.5%, the union said. It also eliminates the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment.

“For two years, we fought for wages and benefits that match the value we bring to Wirecutter and the New York Times, we fought for policies that are fair and equitable, and for improvements to our working conditions that allow us to find and retain the most talented journalists,” said Nick Guy, a Wirecutter senior staff writer, in an emailed statement from the union. “Our union committed to these principles and organized to achieve 100% participation in a strike during our busiest time of the year. I couldn’t be prouder to stand alongside my coworkers as we ratify this contract.”

The union joins a host of worker groups across the U.S. that have bargained for better conditions amid a labor shortage. In the past week, baristas at a Starbucks Corp. store in Buffalo voted to create the sole labor foothold among the coffee chain’s thousands of corporate-run stores and podcasters at IHeartMedia Inc. launched a unionization campaign.

The tentative agreement between the Wirecutter’s union and the Times is subject to ratification by the union’s members in a vote planned for next week.

The Wirecutter union, which represents around 70 editorial employees, is an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America’s NewsGuild, which also represents around 1,300 other workers at the Times, and has petitioned to represent around 600 of the company’s tech workers.

The Times voluntarily recognized the Wirecutter union in 2019 after employees signed up to join. But before last month’s strike, employees said the company was still refusing to agree to an initial contract with any significant guaranteed wage increases.

In a statement, New York Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said the deal includes raising salaries by as much as 18% for the lowest of the four salary bands. The deal should take effect early next year. 

“With bargaining behind us, we look forward to everyone at Wirecutter coming together.” she said. 

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