Pitchfork and Ars Technica Join Organizing Wave at Condé Nast

03/29/2019

For Immediate Release: March 29, 2019
Contact: Josh Austin, josh@nyguild.org | (484) 269-0158

 

New York––Staffers at two Condé Nast publications announced today that they have unionized with the NewsGuild of New York. Ars Technica, a publication that covers technology and science, and Pitchfork, a publication for music criticism and news, are the latest newsrooms to join the wave of unionization in the media industry.

An overwhelming majority of the eligible staff of both publications signed union authorization cards and have requested voluntary recognition of their respective unions. Both groups seek to address issues including job security, layoff procedures, fair annual cost of living raises, structures to improve diversity and inclusion, and a protected collective voice.

Employees at Pitchfork are also seeking to address the subcontracted status of many of their colleagues who are paid by a third party staffing agency, Global Employment Solutions. This employment status has come under increased scrutiny recently as Condé’s employment classification practices have been called out publicly.

Ars Technica’s staff is entirely remote, making it the first digital media company to unionize a staff located throughout the country, with no central physical workplace.

 “The editors, writers, producers, and strategists of Pitchfork are deeply proud of the work we do here,” said Stacey Anderson, Pitchfork Senior Editor. “We believe that forming a union will keep this a sustainable place for all of us. We’re ready for management to address our concerns and work as hard for us as we do for them.”

“We think about the future a lot at Ars Technica, and not just when it comes to climate change, artificial intelligence, or space,” said Nathan Mattise, Features Editor at Ars Technica. “Science and tech journalism is vital for society today and the future needs that, too. Through our union, we're excited to work with management to ensure we're building an environment to do this kind of work for the long haul."

“We are thrilled to welcome Pitchfork and Ars Technica to our union,” said Natalie Meade, the NewsGuild Unit Chair of The New Yorker. “We stand together in the fight for sustainable working conditions, job security and respect as part of the NewsGuild/Condé Nast union family.”

The announcement is the latest in a number of successful NewsGuild organizing drives—including The New Yorker, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The New Republic, Mashable, PC Magazine, and BuzzFeed News—that are demanding a collective voice in their workplace.

“The Guild is excited to welcome the staff of Pitchfork and Ars Technica to our Guild family,” said Grant Glickson, President of the NewsGuild of New York. “We look forward to continuing the productive and amicable relationship we have established with Conde Nast for years to come.”

 

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About the NewsGuild of New York
The NewsGuild of New York, Local 31003 of the Communications Workers of America, is a labor union representing nearly 3,000 media professionals and other employees at New York area news organizations, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Thomson Reuters, The Nation, and The Daily Beast.

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