The union slams news of cuts as regressive bargaining, plans to strike if management continues bargaining in bad faith.
Members of BuzzFeed News Union announced Tuesday that they have voted overwhelmingly to authorize the bargaining team to call a strike if management continues bargaining in bad faith. The vote was taken during the afternoon bargaining session. The unit represents 61 members and is part of The NewsGuild of New York Local 31003. Ninety percent of the unit participated in the strike vote, with 91% voting to authorize the bargaining team to call a strike.
Union members have been bargaining for over two years for their first collective bargaining agreement. In that time, members have engaged in collective, concerted, and escalating actions to move management toward a more just and serious bargaining process, including a one day walkout.
Last week, the company announced, under the threat of layoffs, that they would be offering “voluntary buyouts” to one-third of the unit, targeting reporters and editors who cover investigations, inequality, politics or science and have worked for the company for more than a year. Following the announcement, BuzzFeed News Union released a statement stating: “Once again, it’s clear BuzzFeed management is still learning a fundamental truth about their newsroom: now that we have our union, the era of them making unilateral decisions that affect our work and our lives is over.”
“The BuzzFeed News Union has fought management’s proposed newsroom cuts before, and we won’t roll over this time,” said Addy Baird, Political Reporter, BuzzFeed News. “Our union stands together to fight for a strong contract that includes strong buyouts, but let me be clear: The decision to gut our newsroom is an absolutely shameful one, and Jonah Peretti should be deeply embarrassed.”
This is the second time the union has bargained with management over newsroom cuts. The last time, during the height of the pandemic, management claimed drastic layoffs were inevitable. The union collectively organized powerful actions in response and successfully negotiated a workshare program that saved jobs.
“These ‘buyouts’ are, frankly, buyouts in name only. What the company is offering is scarcely better than severance, and it’s an insult to our colleagues, who have given so much to this newsroom for years,” said Julia Reinstein, Senior Reporter, BuzzFeed News. “We saved dozens of jobs when the company wanted to lay us off during a pandemic, and we have secured better, safer working conditions for not just our newsroom colleagues, but workers all across BuzzFeed.”
The NewsGuild of New York has filed an unfair labor practice against the company over the regressive and illegal bargaining tactics. Supporters can sign up here to stay updated on the status of contract talks and receive word when the unit calls a strike.
“BuzzFeed News Union members are ready to do whatever it takes to ensure their Pulitzer-prize winning newsroom continues to operate with integrity and to win a contract that values the essential work they do,” said Susan DeCarava, President, The NewsGuild of New York. “Their nearly 5,000 Guild colleagues stand with them. It’s time for BuzzFeed management to resume bargaining in good faith with proposals that recognize our members’ contributions to the ongoing success of the company. Our members at BuzzFeed deserve better than what the company is offering and how they’ve been treated. We are fighting for what they deserve.”