Tech union workers at The New York Times are threatening to strike on Election Day due to stalled contract negotiations. The union, representing around 600 software engineers and other non-editorial tech staff, has put forth a series of demands that include mandatory trigger warnings, a four-day workweek, unlimited sick leave, job security for non-citizens, and pet bereavement leave.
The Times Tech Guild authorized the potential strike last week, aiming to halt work on Election Day, a particularly crucial period for media outlets. The union has been in negotiations for nearly two years, pushing for these extensive changes. Among their demands are requests for trigger warnings when discussing current events, restrictions on scented products in shared spaces, and stronger job protections for employees on work visas.
New York Times Chairman A.G. Sulzberger expressed concerns, noting that the union’s economic demands would result in an estimated $100 million increase in compensation and benefits over the proposed three-year contract. Currently, the average annual salary for Tech Guild members is about $190,000, including salary, bonuses, and stock options—roughly $40,000 more than their journalist colleagues at the company.
The Times already offers various employee benefits, including up to $10,000 for adoption or surrogacy costs, $50,000 for fertility treatments, and discounts on pet, home, and auto insurance.
Danielle Rhoads Ha, a spokesperson for the Times, emphasized that the company values its tech workers and is eager to reach a fair contract. However, she pointed out that the negotiations have focused heavily on non-economic proposals such as banning machine learning and unscented cleaning products—topics that are typically not part of collective bargaining agreements.
