As newsrooms prepare for nonstop Election Day coverage, unionized members of the Times Tech Guild, representing software developers and data analysts at The New York Times, walked off the job early on the morning of Nov. 4, the day before the presidential election, to demand a “just” contract.
“Break your streak!” said Annie Shields, the lead organizer for the Guild, in an 𝕏 post leading up to the walkout.
Workers are demanding a new contract guaranteeing benefits like remote and hybrid work protections, a “just cause” termination clause, limits on subcontracting, and fair pay, said Guild leadership in a statement. The Guild is also asking Times subscribers not to cross the “digital picket line” by shunning the NYT Cooking mobile app and refusing to play its offerings of word and logic games such as the popular “Wordle,” “Connections,” and “Spelling Bee.”
Members of the Tech Times Guild will protest every day at 9 a.m. outside the West 41st Street office until a new agreement is reached.
Members of the Tech Guild formed a picket line outside of the New York Times Headquarters. (Credit: Tyler Paz)
A union member wearing a hoodie with an NYT headline about the Guild’s union certification. (Credit: Tyler Paz)
Union members march the picket line holding signs for a “Just Contract.” (Credit: Tyler Paz)
