Vote follows management illegally changing workers’ health care and a proposal in April to lay off 20% of bargaining unit
Insider Union announced today that a supermajority of union members voted in favor of authorizing their bargaining committee to call a strike. Members are calling for the company to bargain in good faith and are protesting management’s decision to illegally change workers’ health care. Members are also demanding a resolution to a proposed layoff that would reduce the newsroom by 20 percent, as they are bargaining for a fair first contract. The nearly 300 members of the Insider Union are represented by The NewsGuild of New York.
94 percent voted in favor of strike authorization on Tuesday afternoon after a bargaining session with Insider management. 80 percent of the bargaining unit participated in the vote.
Insider’s illegal actions forced Guild members to spend more on healthcare while company executives pocket the difference. In November 2022, the Guild filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Insider with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the company unlawfully changed workers’ health care, drastically increasing employee costs while significantly reducing their coverage.
In May 2023, the NLRB informed Guild and Insider that it found merit with the union’s ULP and would be issuing a complaint against the company.
The strike authorization vote also comes in the wake of the company’s proposal on April 20th to lay off 60 union members. Four days after management announced the proposed layoffs, members of the Insider Union held a one-day walkout, with more than 250 members walking off the job and dozens picketing the company’s Financial District headquarters in New York City.
Members of the Insider Union have been fighting for a first contract for more than two years, demanding the company stop bargaining in bad faith and reach a fair agreement on wages and lower health insurance costs.
In April 2021, more than 300 employees at Insider announced they had formed a union of workers across editorial, including reporters, editors, video producers, and designers. Insider Union was officially certified by the National Labor Relations Board the following June after workers voted 241-14 in favor of unionization.
“Our work is what drives Insider’s success, yet we’re treated like we’re disposable. Enough is enough. I’m proud to stand in solidarity with my co-workers on the picket line until we get the strong contract we’re fighting for,” said William Antonelli, a tech reporter at Insider and Shop Steward of the Insider Union.
“I hope we continue to make progress at the table and settle a fair contract. But if that progress stalls, we’re ready to demonstrate that we’re the ones who make this company run,” said Emma LeGault, Copy Editor and Insider Union Unit Chair.
“Rather than listening to workers who are asking for reasonable wage increases and protections in the newsroom, Insider violated Federal Labor Law and is attempting to undermine its own newsroom by threatening to lay off reporters,” said Susan DeCarava, President of The NewsGuild of New York. “It’s time for Insider to end its union-busting and come to the table in good faith with reasonable proposals that respect the rights of the workers who power its bottom line.”
Follow the Insider union on Twitter: @InsiderUnion