Strike Rocks New York Times on the Eve of Election

The New York Times Tech Guild that represents hundreds of the giant newspaper's tech staffers went on strike on Monday, one day before Election Day.

The guild said in a statement that members would begin protesting outside the Times headquarters on a daily basis, beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, according to the New York Times.

The planned walkout came after a vote on Sept. 10 to go on strike at a critical juncture if a deal wasn't made: Election Week. Anticipation and interest in the 2024 election is at a fever pitch, and the New York Times has the largest online subscription base of any American newspaper and one of the most highly trafficked news websites. 

According to the Times, the Tech Guild's 600 members are in charge of the back-end systems that power the paper's extensive digital operations, working in Engineering, Product, Design, Data and the project management office. The strike could affect the paper's ability to cover the election results of the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as well as the hundreds of House and dozens of Senate races dominating the national conversation and determining who will control of Washington in 2025.

"They have left us no choice but to demonstrate the power of our labor on the picket line," Kathy Zhang, the guild’s unit chair, said in the statement, according to the New York Times. "Nevertheless, we stand ready to bargain and get this contract across the finish line."

According to the Times, negotiations went late into Sunday and there were still disagreements over issues like a "just cause" provision that would prevent termination for reasons unrelated to misconduct, as well as pay raises and return-to-office policies. Times management told workers on Sunday it had offered a 2.5% annual wage hike, a 5% pay increase minimum for promotions and a $1,000 ratification bonus.