Feb. 22, 2018 – Union members at The Daily Beast overwhelmingly ratified a two-year contract between the company and The NewsGuild of New York.
Under the terms of the agreement, a new tier system will ensure that members will receive a guaranteed general wage increase ranging from 1 percent to 3 percent in both years of the contract. As a result, minimum wages for those in the bottom two tiers of the pay scale will substantially increase for Guild members.
The Guild fought hard to maintain its “just cause” clause in the contract and codified a process that requires to company to cover travel expenses upfront. Previously, staff paid for business expenses and often waited weeks for reimbursement.
Guild members also secured a more robust parental leave policy, providing union members who are primary caregivers up to 16 weeks of leave.
Guild journalists at The Daily Beast may now take up to one month for unpaid “project leave,” to work on documentaries, books, pilots and other projects that have been sold.
Members pushed for a stronger statement on inclusion in The Daily Beast’s equal employment policy. “Gender expression and identity” will now be included as a protected class in all the company’s employment opportunities.