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Journalists Secure New Contract After 3-Year Fight
3 Dec
Summary
- Newsroom workers to receive raises totaling over $8,000 across three years.
- Union members successfully fended off attempts to use non-union labor.
- Negotiations followed multiple rounds of layoffs and buyouts.
After more than three years of difficult negotiations, Los Angeles Times journalists have overwhelmingly approved a new guild contract. This hard-fought resolution brings substantial pay increases to over 200 newsroom employees, with stipulated raises for the first three years of the agreement. The union successfully thwarted attempts by management to reduce job protections and hire more non-union staff.
The ratification process was marked by significant challenges, including several rounds of layoffs and voluntary departures that nearly halved the union's membership. Despite these hurdles, the journalists' resolve led to a tentative agreement in November, following a strike authorization vote and an intensive 20-hour bargaining session.
Key provisions in the new contract include Juneteenth as a recognized holiday and new protections for gender identity, ensuring employees are addressed by their chosen names and pronouns. The agreement also establishes a framework for Guild-represented 'per diem' employees, aiming to reduce reliance on non-union temporary workers.
