CONTRACT RATIFIED: Condé Union members vote to approve deal struck last week, just hours ahead of the Met Gala

This is the first contract for Condé Union – which represents workers at brands such as Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Epicurious, Glamour, GQ, Self, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Them, and Condé Nast Entertainment. The union was certified in September 2022.

The union’s bargaining team pushed for marathon sessions with the company while at the same time planning a major work stoppage and protest of the Met Gala, considered to be one of the year's most prestigious fashion events with high-profile celebrities attending and the special project of Anna Wintour, Vogue editor in chief and chief content officer of Condé Nast.

Just hours before the Met Gala, a tentative agreement was reached.

Here are just some of the highlights of the contract:

• $3.6 million in total wage increases
• 14 weeks of parental of fully paid parental leave (an increase of two weeks)
• “Just cause” protections, which establishes standards that management must adhere to when disciplining or terminating a member
• End to two-tier permanence employment
• Conversion of subcontracted employees to permanent staff
• Guaranteed comp time after 40 hours of work
• Expanded paid bereavement policy to cover biological and chosen family
  Hybrid work protections

The Guild also successfully negotiated the terms of the layoffs.

• Eight weeks of severance with all applicable wage increases
• Continued employment through ratification
• Three months of COBRA coverage or, in lieu of COBRA, a one time lump sum payment equal to the three months of COBRA coverage, less applicable taxes and withholdings.
• For employees who are not eligible for COBRA, a one time lump sum payment of $2,000, less taxes and withholdings.
• Accrued and unused vacation paid out.
• Additional one time lump sum payment of $1,000, less taxes and withholdings.
• An additional lump sum payment to be allocated equally amongst the list, based on a .25% trade from management’s proposed General Wage Increase for 2024.
• A layoff moratorium through July 31, 2024.

“Our pledge to take any action necessary to get our contract, including walking off the job ahead of the Met Gala, is what got us this contract, along with the tireless work of our bargaining team,” said Mallary Santucci, Bon Appétit culinary producer and interim VP of the Condé Nast Entertainment bargaining unit. “Beginning today, the contract’s protections will have a profound impact on the lives of all of our members.”