MEDIA ADVISORY: The NewsGuild of NY takes legal action against Fortune Media for unlawful RTO edict

NEW YORK – The NewsGuild of NY has filed an unfair labor practice against Fortune Media, after the magazine’s management issued an unlawful directive to return to in-person work.

Mike Kiley, CHRO at Fortune Media, recently sent a message to staff, directing all employees including those represented by the NY Guild, to return to in-person work three days a week starting Sept. 5. At no point was this mandate negotiated with the Fortune Union.

In response to this blatant disregard to union members’ rights, The NewsGuild of NY filed an unfair labor practice complaint on Friday, Sept. 1.

“Returning to the office is a mandatory subject of bargaining, a position that’s been affirmed as recently as two weeks ago by the National Labor Relations Board,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of NY.” “Fortune Union members have had enough of management’s blatant disregard for their rights and want to send a clear message that the company has to bargain on any unilateral changes including RTO and must stop stalling in negotiations.”

Fortune management has not bargained with the union since May, when the union last presented a proposal on indemnification, or security against legal liability. “RTO is just the latest in a series of actions taken by the company to overstep our rights as union members,” said Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, unit chair of the Fortune Union.