More than 1,300 employees of The New York Times do not want to return to the office.
The New York Post noted the Times wants employees to start coming into the office three days a week.
However, as the Post pointed out, the News Guild journalists union and upper management have been involved in a bitter contract dispute over wages.
The more than 1,300 employees have reportedly pledged not to return to the office.
Editor for the Times, Tom Coffey, told the Post, “People are livid.”
A spokesperson for the Times claims there is not a set number of days people are mandated to work in the office, as the Post reported.
“We continue to believe that a hybrid work environment best suits The New York Times at this moment,” the spokesperson said.
Coffey explained, “It’s not a mandatory three day a week return to work, per se… but they really do ‘expect’ you to be back in the office three days a week.”
According to sources with knowledge of the company’s position, management for the Times was waiting until other issues were settled before addressing wage negotiations.
Several Twitter users have weighed in on the dispute.
The Times’ Asthaa Chaturvedi tweeted, “The [NY Times] is giving employees branded lunch boxes this week as a return-to-office perk. We want respect and a fair contract instead.”
The @nytimes is giving employees branded lunch boxes this week as a return-to-office perk. We want respect and a fair contract instead. I’m working from home this week along with 860 of my @NYTimesGuild colleagues. We'll continue to produce the same quality journalism.
— Asthaa Chaturvedi (@Pasthaaa) September 12, 2022
Another user wrote, “NYT Workers haven’t had a raise in over 2 years. Meanwhile A.G. Sulzberger made $3.6 million in 2021 compared to $2.4 million in 2020, and Meredith Kopit Levien made $5.8 million in 2021, up from $4.4 million in 2020.”
Sulzberger is chairman of The New York Times Company and publisher of The New York Times.
Kopit Levien is president and chief executive officer of The New York Times Company.
NYT Workers haven't had a raise in over 2 years. Meanwhile A.G. Sulzberger made $3.6 million in 2021 compared to $2.4 million in 2020, and Meredith Kopit Levien made $5.8 million in 2021, up from $4.4 million in 2020. https://t.co/cVqWjexjJs
— Annie Shields (@anastasiakeeley) September 12, 2022
Read more comments below:
I wouldn’t want to piss off several hundred journalists, software developers and other media workers, but what do I know.? https://t.co/AUnBncJgU2
— Jon Schleuss (@gaufre) September 12, 2022
I’m working from home this week because @nytimes management has so far not engaged with @NYTimesGuild & @NYTGuildTech to negotiate in good faith for a return to the office as the @NLRB requires. My 1,300 colleagues and I are staying home all week w/support from @wirecutterunion
— Emily Flitter (@FlitterOnFraud) September 12, 2022
The @nytimes wants us back in the office. I’m pleased to stand with 1,300 of my @NYTGuildTech and @NYTimesGuild colleagues who’ve pledged to work from home this first week of mandatory return to assert our right to bargain over RTO and all related health and safety policies.
— David E. Wheeler (@theory) September 13, 2022
New York Times employees are so angry about the snail-like pace of contract talks & about not receiving a contractual raise in 2 1/2 years that 1,300 NYT employees have signed a petition saying they won't return to the officehttps://t.co/gbW4YueSuB
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 13, 2022
I’m working from home this week along with 860 of my @NYTimesGuild colleagues. @nytimes management always offers public praise of our work, but at the negotiating table they do the exact opposite. We want respect and a fair contract now. #return-to-office
— Christoph Fuhrmans (@CFuhrmans) September 12, 2022
Insider reported in 2021 that from late 2019 through late 2021 annual base salaries at the Times ranged from $70,000 to $306,000, for various roles.
