Web Desk:
According to the national media, hundreds of reporters, editors, photographers, and other employees of The New York Times have walked off the job for 24 hours, the first major strike at the newspaper in more than 40 years.
Fed up with negotiating that has dragged on since their last contract expired in March 2021, newsroom staffers began a 24-hour work stoppage on Thursday.
The NewsGuild of New York, a union representing the striking workers, had said that a key sticking point was the management’s refusal to raise wages in line with surging inflation. The union went through with its pledge to strike after the two sides failed to reach a deal in marathon negotiations that broke off Wednesday evening.
The NewsGuild tweeted that “over 1,100 New York Times workers are now officially on work stoppage, the first of this scale at the company in four decades”. “It’s never an easy decision to refuse to do work you love, but our members are willing to do what it takes to win a better newsroom for all,” it said.
Over 1,100 New York Times workers are now officially on work stoppage, the first of this scale at the company in 4 decades. It's never an easy decision to refuse to do work you love, but our members are willing to do what it takes to win a better newsroom for all. #GuildStrong!
— NewsGuild of New York (@nyguild) December 8, 2022
But New York Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said in a statement that the sides were still in negotiations when the company was told that the strike was happening.
“It is disappointing that they are taking such an extreme action when we are not at an impasse,” she said.
Ms Rhoades Ha told The Associated Press that the company has “solid plans in place” to continue producing content, including relying on international reporters and other journalists who are not union members.
