March 29, 2019 – Staffers at two Condé Nast publications announced March 29 that they are seeking union recognition as members of the New York local of The NewsGuild-CWA.
Employees of Ars Technica, a publication that covers technology and science, and Pitchfork, a publication that covers music criticism and news, are the latest to join the wave of media unionization.
An overwhelming majority of the eligible staff of both publications signed union authorization cards and have requested voluntary recognition by management, the NewsGuild of NY reported.
In establishing a collective voice, they are seeking to address job security, layoff procedures, annual cost-of-living raises and improving diversity in their newsrooms.
Employees at Pitchfork are also seeking to address the subcontracted status of many of their colleagues who are paid by a third-party staffing agency. Condé’s employment classification practices have garnered scrutiny recently, the New York local reported.
Ars Technica’s staff is entirely remote, making it the first digital media company to unionize a staff located throughout the country, with no central physical workplace.
“The editors, writers, producers, and strategists of Pitchfork are deeply proud of the work we do here,” said Stacey Anderson, Pitchfork Senior Editor. “We believe that forming a union will keep this a sustainable place for all of us. We’re ready for management to address our concerns and work as hard for us as we do for them.”
“We think about the future a lot at Ars Technica, and not just when it comes to climate change, artificial intelligence, or space,” said Nathan Mattise, Features Editor at Ars Technica. “Science and tech journalism is vital for society today and the future needs that, too. Through our union, we’re excited to work with management to ensure we’re building an environment to do this kind of work for the long haul.”