Media contacts:
Kathleen Floyd, WBNG: kfloyd@wbng.org
WASHINGTON–Workers in Washingtonian magazine’s union have unanimously approved plans to strike. Washingtonian Guild, which represents employees in the newsroom, art and digital departments, has spent over five years negotiating a contract with management.
Contract talks have snagged over management’s refusal to agree to a reasonable pay floor for employees and over a remote work policy. The Guild has proposed a minimum salary of $60,000; Washingtonian Media’s CEO, Cathy Merrill, has offered only $42,500, a sum completely inadequate for anyone living in the Washington, DC, area.
“For many of us, working at Washingtonian is a dream job, but we are constantly losing talented staffers who simply can’t afford to work here,” said Food Editor Jessica Sidman. “It’s not unusual for employees to take on side work or get financial help from family or partners just to make ends meet. Cathy’s proposed salary floor is embarrassingly below industry norms and falling further and further behind every day. Our requests are truly modest. Enough is enough—let’s get a deal done.”
“After five years of bargaining in good faith, sharing testimonials, and extending olive branches to management, it has become clear a strike is our only choice,” said Lifestyle Editor Daniella Byck. “This magazine is a product of our labor, and I hope this action serves as a reminder that the high-quality journalism our readers rely on is contingent on the workers at Washingtonian.”
To support the workers, send a letter to Washingtonian CEO Cathy Merrill asking her to pay Washingtonian employees a living wage.
Workers have not yet announced a strike date. Follow @washingtonianguild on Instagram for updates.
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ABOUT WASHINGTONIAN GUILD
Formed in 2021, the Washingtonian Guild represents over a dozen workers in the newsroom, art and digital departments. Workers have been negotiating a first contract for over 5 years.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE NEWS GUILD
The Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035 of the Communications Workers of America, the union for more than 3,000 news, information, nonprofit and labor organization workers in the mid-Atlantic and beyond, including the Washington Post, Environmental Defense Fund, AFL-CIO, POLITICO and the American Nurses Association (ANA). Together, we hold our employers accountable and ensure that our workplaces reflect our values, which include ensuring everyone is free from harassment and retaliation, earns equal pay for equal work and has a voice in their workplace.