Labor tensions at the New York Times are intensifying, with the publisher expressing concerns about the union’s tactics in the negotiations and Times staffers taking to Slack to vent frustrations with management.
After two years and over 50 bargaining sessions, the union and management have been unable to agree on wages and healthcare benefits, among other issues.
Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger last week sent a note to members of the union’s bargaining group for the first time, expressing his concern about the lengthy negotiations. Sulzberger claimed the committee is refusing to negotiate in person in small groups, a chance “to lock eyes, shake hands and hash out a deal,” according to a copy of the email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
He argued for bringing in a neutral third party to help reach a deal. “Given the troubling lack of progress after more than two years, I wanted to reach out to share my concerns about the process that has gotten us to this point,” Mr. Sulzberger wrote.
Meanwhile, Times staffers have taken to the messaging app Slack to express their frustrations, according to several staffers and messages reviewed by the Journal.
In one widely accessible channel, “#celebrate,” several unionized staffers highlighted a recent securities filing from the company that detailed what top executives earned last year, including performance-based stock awards based on metrics such as the company’s adjusted operating income and digital-subscription revenue.
“I want to #celebrate the fact that those fat executive bonuses were the result of the company hitting its business goals—which it did because of the hard work of its employees, including nearly 1,500 Guild members,” wrote one reporter and active union member last week.
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