Over 600 tech workers at The New York Times staged a walkout to protest the company’s return-to-office policy.
The dispute stems from the fact that The Times’ return-to-office policies were introduced prior to the recognition of the Tech Guild. To voice their grievances, both the New York Times Guild, which represents the majority of the newspaper’s newsroom employees, and the Times Tech Guild sent cease-and-desist letters to management in August.
The Times’ Tech Guild argues that the company’s recently implemented remote-work policies run counter to the terms and conditions established when their union was officially recognized last year.
The walkout will begin at 1 pm ET on Monday, October 31, and will involve both in-person and remote workers. In-person workers will rally and picket outside The Times’ premises, while remote workers will sign off at 1 pm to participate in a digital rally and Zoom-based picket.
Kathy Zhang, the Tech Guild’s unit chair insists that the work stoppage is to send a strong message of not allowing authorities to trample on their rights. A Times spokesperson, on the other hand, highlighted the company’s commitment to fostering a flexible working environment that combines in-office collaboration with remote work. They expressed the company’s dedication to working with the Tech Guild to swiftly reach a mutually satisfactory contract.
The sources for this piece include an article in Axios.
