New York Times tech union goes on strike one day before election

The New York Times Tech Guild announced Monday morning it is officially on an unfair labor practice strike, just one day before the high-stakes presidential election. 

The union said on X that it gave management “months of notice of our strike deadline” but that ultimately, “the company has decided that our members aren’t worth enough to agree to a fair contract and stop committing unfair labor practices.”

The guild comprises over 600 tech workers, such as software engineers and data analysts, who “build and maintain the critical infrastructure behind The New York Times,” according to the guild's website. They work on the back end of Times products including games, recipes, podcasts and election coverage, according to the website. The Times said they work on the business side of the company.

Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha said in a statement Monday that while the company respects “the union's right to engage in protected actions, we’re disappointed that colleagues would strike at this time, which is both unnecessary and at odds with our mission.”

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Tech Guild to reach a fair contract that takes into account that they are already among the highest paid individual contributors in the Company and journalism is our top priority,” Rhoades Ha said.

The Times said it has “robust plans in place to ensure that we are able to fulfill our mission and serve our readers.”

The Times Tech Guild and Times management negotiated through late Sunday, the Times reported. Issues included having a “just cause” provision in the guild contract, pay increases and pay equity, and return-to-office policies.

The Guild said those on strike will picket in front of the Times in Times Square every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it asked the public to support them by avoiding using the Times' games or cooking apps.

Times media reporter Katie Robertson said on X that the newsroom union told members Monday that there is a no-strike clause in its contract but that members can support the striking tech workers “by refusing to do their work if asked by management.”