New York Times staffers rally outside headquarters demanding fair contract and AI protections

New York Times staff gathered outside the company’s New York City headquarters to demand a fair contract and to prioritize profits over people. The Times Guild, representing more than 1,500 editorial, advertising, and support staff workers, is seeking protections against artificial intelligence, guaranteed hybrid work, affordable health care, pay increases tied to the cost of living, and work remaining within the union. The current contract expired on Feb. 28, and a resolution has not appeared close. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge after “Fair Contract Now” signs were removed, which the Guild said violated federally protected union rights, though a cleaning crew mistake was cited. Senior editor Jim Luttrell said employees are unhappy with management and view AI as a threat to jobs.

"New York Times staffers got up from their workspaces inside the paper's New York City headquarters on Wednesday and gathered outside to rally against management, demanding a fair contract and insisting the company puts profits over people. The event, dubbed "Rally for a Fair Contract," came as the Times Guild is fighting for protections against artificial intelligence, guaranteed hybrid work, affordable health care, pay increases that match the rising cost of living and keeping work within the union."

"Members of the Times Guild, which represents more than 1,500 editorial, advertising, and support staff workers, are furious that their contract expired on Feb. 28 and a resolution doesn't appear close. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the paper on Tuesday after some "Fair Contract Now" signs that were placed on desks throughout the office were removed, which the Guild called a violation of the federally protected rights of union members, although a Times insider said it was an honest mistake by the cleaning crew."

""This company is often 'do as I say, not as I do' and they are very much a corporation when it comes to dealing with organized labor. They want to increase their profits even more, but they don't want to share those profits with us," Luttrell told Fox News Digital. "We know we make this place what it is," Luttrell added. "This was an escalation today... it's to tell the company that, 'You've been dismissive of our needs and our wants and desires, and we're not going away.'""

"Luttrell, who has been at the Times for 31 years, said AI is seen as "a threat to our jobs," and unionized employees want protections in writing."

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