Condé Nast illegally fired four Condé United leaders after they confronted the boss to demand answers about abrupt layoffs and the closure of Teen Vogue. These terminations are a blatant act of retaliation and an attempt to silence union journalists holding power to account.
Teen Vogue has been known for its political coverage and youth-driven culture features. The layoffs and closure of Teen Vogue are moves designed to blunt the award-winning journalism at a time when it’s needed the most. The plan to lay off six NewsGuild of New York members, most of whom are BIPOC women or trans, continues a trend by Condé to disproportionately impact marginalized employees.
So, clearly journalists at Condé had questions.
They brought those questions to Stan Duncan, the head of human resources.
Instead of answering the questions, or sitting down to talk with journalists, Duncan told people to return to their workplace. (Isn’t that the office they’re all working in?)
Duncan then hid in a locked office after refusing to answer questions posed by more than a dozen journalists.
And then he illegally fired four union leaders from Bon Appetit, Wired, The New Yorker and Condé Nast Entertainment.
“Management’s attempt at union-busting, using intimidation and grossly illegal tactics to try to suppress protected union activity, will not stand,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “The NewsGuild of New York has zero tolerance for bad bosses who harass, target and disrespect our fellow Guild members. We represent nearly 6,000 media workers across the tri-state area and we stand firmly in solidarity, ready to fight for the rights of our members illegally fired from their jobs at Conde.”
These journalists should be returned to their jobs immediately.
NewsGuild members across New York and across our continent are ready to stand up for our union siblings – and for a free and independent press that does not cower to corporate intimidation.
Journalists at Science News walked out this week for a one day strike after more than 560 days of bargaining with no contract. During the picket, workers called on management at Society for Science to return to the table and agree to a fair contract that reflects the talent and dedication of workers.
Because of the strike, the company had to delay sending out the November issue. The nonprofit news organization was founded to educate the layman about complicated scientific issues. News that’s extremely important right now. It’s a shame that President and CEO Maya Ajmera is more focused on fighting journalists than supporting them.
Journalists first unionized in November of 2023 with a mission to ensure that the newsroom lives up to its potential as a supportive, nurturing environment for workers in every role and career stage. And to make sure management reflects core values to every journalist: transparency, accuracy and fairness.
Support the journalists at Science News by signing their petition demanding management agree to a fair contract.
Business Insider quietly rolled out an artificially intelligent “author” and journalists got loud. The company, which is controlled by Axel Springer in Germany, launched a byline page for “Business Insider AI” with a description that the “byline uses generative AI tools to draft news stories so we can bring readers more information, more quickly.”
The union AI subcommittee at Business Insider quickly activated and started having conversations across the newsroom. They made a flyer and dropped a graphic in person and on social media. I spoke to Lily Oberstein to learn more. She’s Business Insider’s unit chair and an insights and analytics editor in the newsroom. See what she said.
Journalists at the New York Daily News have reached a tentative first contract with Alden Global Capital after three years of tough bargaining, including a January 2024 work stoppage and rallies across New York.
The deal includes transformative salary floors – with minimums of $60,000 at ratification and $75,000 for senior reporters and editors.
“I could not be prouder of everyone in the Daily News Union who made this possible,” said Michael Sheridan, unit chair of the Daily News Union.
“Winning the first contract for the Daily News’ workers in more than 30 years was an uphill battle. From the historic walkout to distributing flyers and organizing rallies, it was a Herculean effort. But it never would have happened without the dedicated efforts of dozens of people, including those who have left the News for bigger and better things.”
A Chicago judge last week admonished Border Patrol for their tactics in the city, in a case brought by the Chicago News Guild, ACLU and others. Judge Sara L. Ellis of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois admonished a senior Border Patrol official over behavior that appeared to violate restriction in a temporary restraining order she previously issued. And yesterday she castigated the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for its aggressive use of force during an illegal immigration crackdown. And she slammed down an injunction.
Judge Ellis accused government officials for repeatedly lying about their own tactics and actions of protestors.
“The government would have people believe instead that the Chicagoland area is in a vise hold of violence, ransacked by rioters and attacked by agitators,” she said. “That simply is untrue, and the government’s own evidence in this case belies that assertion.”
The Chicago Guild first sued DHS alongside other plaintiffs in October.
Nonprofit workers at Evergreen Collaborative ratified their first contract with the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, securing fair pay, guaranteed raises, flexible schedules with every other Friday off, retirement security and a joint labor-management committee to address workload and equity concerns.
“We’re so proud that our 10-member team has secured a contract guaranteeing fair pay and real balance, proving that sustainability begins with the people behind the mission,” said Emily Halvorson, state press secretary for Evergreen Collaborative.
The Evergreen Collaborative contract underscores the growing momentum of nonprofit workers organizing with The NewsGuild-CWA to build equitable and transparent workplaces.
Workers at Avodah ratified their first contract with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild after winning voluntary recognition in 2022 at the Jewish social justice organization. Avodah develops Jewish leaders for social justice through the Jewish Service Corps, the Justice Fellowship and other community-based programs across the U.S.
“The Avodah Staff Union is beyond thrilled to ratify our first contract, joining a growing community of unionized Jewish nonprofits and taking our place in a long lineage of Jewish labor organizing,” said Lauren Fine, the Alumni Manager at Avodah.
Sun Sentinel journalists fight Alden Global Capital for a fair contract and need your support for their new petition. Staff at the South Florida Sun are demanding a contract that provides fair wages, benefits and the resources needed to cover the community.
In August 2024, workers formed the Sun Sentinel Guild to secure a contract that honors staff’s work and reflects the needs of South Florida readers. Stand with us by signing the petition and calling on management to deliver a fair contract.
Canadian Media Guild members will vote next week for local officers. The vote will be held from November 10 to 14 for top positions including national president, director of human rights and equity and director of precarious workers. Several positions were elected by acclamation. Only CMG members in good standing can vote and must have a CMG membership card. More info here.
Retirees are now automatically enrolled for retiree chapters at two Guild locals. That’s going to immediately start helping retirees build support for actively working members. Mark Pattison, the Retired Members Council Media Sector vice president, made a pitch this summer at The NewsGuild-CWA Sector Conference. Since then both The NewsGuild of New York and the Washington-Baltimore News Guild have automatically enrolled new and future retirees into their respective chapters of the CWA Retired Members Council.
The NY Guild took the step last month, granting lifetime membership to the New York Guild Retiree Council for all retirees, honoring their ongoing dedication to the labor movement.
“This motion was inspired by and celebrates the retirement of Kathy Wilmore, longtime Scholastic Unit Chair, whose many years of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to the advancement of our members and all workers exemplify the true spirit of solidarity and leadership,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York.
Guild locals of any size can start their own local RMC chapter by granting automatic membership to their retirees with a $25 Lifetime Membership per retiree. To learn more, contact Myra Kreiman, Media Sector President of the CWA Retired Members Council, mkreiman@gmail.com or V.P. Mark Pattison at pattison_mark@outlook.com
The NewsGuild is hiring a campaign lead to channel the energy of our members, community supporters and policy stakeholders into winning legislative initiatives.
The ideal candidate will have experience running multiple organizing campaigns and the strategic skills necessary to inspire and activate workers to take action.
The position is hybrid and based in Washington, DC.