CONDÉ WORKERS REINSTATED AFTER ILLEGAL TERMINATIONS AND SUSPENSIONS; MANAGEMENT SETTLES WITH NYGUILD

NEW YORK — Unionized Condé Nast workers who were illegally fired and disciplined after taking part in a “march on the boss” in November 2025 have been vindicated as part of a substantial agreement won by The NewsGuild of New York on Wednesday. 

“Our fight as a union is about more than a single contract; it is about ensuring workers’ rights to a just workplace,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “When employers attempt to undermine our rights, we will organize, fight back, and hold them accountable. This settlement sends a forceful message: workers united in solidarity have the power to push back against bully union-busting bosses and demand their workplaces be governed by respect rather than fear.” 

Condé Nast management illegally terminated four Condé Union leaders and suspended five others for coming together to demand answers from executives at 1 World Trade Center about abrupt layoffs at multiple brands including WIRED and the consolidation at Teen Vogue. 

By abruptly, and unlawfully, firing and suspending nine employees, management violated members’ contractual Just Cause protections, as well as federal labor law to engage in protected concerted activity as workers.

 The NewsGuild of New York immediately filed grievances related to the firings and suspensions, as well as Unfair Labor Practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Guild members at Condé Nast were also supported by NewsGuild parent union the Communications Workers of America, through a member relief fund program that provides aid to workers targeted by union busting.

Under the terms of the settlement, three of the illegally fired workers — Alma Avalle, Ben Dewey and Jasper Lo — were:

• Reinstated as employees in good standing 
• Awarded significant financial settlements totaling more than $400K
• Provided letters of recommendation, with all disciplinary records expunged

The three reinstated workers subsequently chose to resign on their own terms. Jake Lahut, a fourth unlawfully fired employee, declined a lesser settlement offer from the Company. At the time of the dismissal, he was a probationary employee and not yet covered under the contract’s Just Cause provisions. He is, however, protected by federal labor law as a union member and the NewsGuild of New York has an active unfair labor practice charge on his behalf at the National Labor Relations Board. 

“We fought because we had to, because so much of an equitable future as workers and journalists depends on our combined efforts to resist inhumane treatment,” said Jasper Lo, formerly a senior fact checker at The New Yorker. “There is no reason for us to feel disempowered by companies and work in the fear that they create. Not only can we stand up for what’s right, but we can also set the tone for what is acceptable in a workplace.” 

The five illegally suspended workers were:

• Awarded back pay for every day they were illegally suspended without pay
• Cleared of all wrongdoing with their disciplinary records expunged

“The unpaid suspensions added another layer of egregious, illegal retaliation to this situation—and it was particularly insulting that Conde Nast never specifically articulated to any of us what they alleged that we did wrong or why we were singled out”, said Lily Newman, Senior Writer at Wired. “It is heartening that this settlement removes the discipline from my and my colleagues’ records and furnishes backpay.”