Digital Editorial Staff of People Magazine Win Union Vote 45-3

09/11/2020

For Immediate Release | September 11, 2020
Press Inquiries: Josh Austin, 484.269.0158

 

Digital Editorial Staff of People Magazine Win Union Vote 45-3
In an overwhelming victory, editorial media workers at the most-read magazine in America certified
The NewsGuild of New York as their bargaining representative 

New York — The digital editorial employees of People Magazine won their union election after a digital vote count conducted by The American Arbitration Association (AAA) Friday afternoon. The overwhelming victory, 45-3, secured editorial staffers’ union representation with The NewsGuild of New York.

Digital staffers announced publicly on May 13, 2020, that an overwhelming majority of employees — at 98% — signed union authorization cards and requested voluntary recognition from parent company Meredith Corporation. Despite the strong showing of union support, Meredith CEO Tom Harty refused to recognize the union and insisted on an election. 

Upon winning this election, the digital workers at People officially join their print colleagues as NewsGuild of New York-represented employees. People print has been represented by the NewsGuild for decades. Digital staffers had been seeking to close the arbitrary “print-digital divide” as well as negotiate a strong contract that extends the same robust negotiated benefits and protections the magazine’s print staffers have historically enjoyed to everyone in the newsroom. Employees at People, the most-read magazine in the country, are excited to make their newsroom a thriving place to work.

Laura Barcella, Staff Crime Editor, said, “The experience of People digital working together as a group to help secure a future for ourselves — and our publication — has been an inspiring and rewarding process. We're all looking forward to finally securing a strong contract with Meredith.” 

Greg Hanlon, Crime News Editor, said, "We're proud we came together as a newsroom to secure the future of People. As a staff, we feel empowered — and we believe an empowered, united staff is one that will produce the best-quality work."

“I’m thrilled to finally and officially welcome our digital colleagues into our union,” said Dan Neuburger, People Magazine Unit Chair. “I look forward to, alongside our newest unionized colleagues, negotiating a strong contract that protects and benefits all of People Magazine’s editorial employees.” 

“Today’s overwhelming win is a victory for media professionals in the NewsGuild-CWA across the nation and for those who want to organize their newsrooms,” said Susan DeCarava, President of The NewsGuild of New York. “This election further bolsters the foundation of any union: solidarity. Our members stood united and won. I expect that Tom Harty and Meredith leadership will hear this resounding mandate for the workers’ voice in the newsroom and come to the table in good faith to bargain a new contract.” 

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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 4,000 media professionals and other employees at New York area news organizations, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Thomson Reuters, The Nation, BuzzFeed News, TIME, People, Wirecutter, and The Daily Beast

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