We’re Worth More! Mashable, PCMag and AskMen.com Overwhelmingly Vote to Strike

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2021
Contact: Josh Austin, josh@nyguild.org | (484) 269-0158

We’re Worth More! Mashable, PCMag and AskMen.com Overwhelmingly Vote to Strike
In their fight for a first contract, the unionized editorial workers at Ziff Davis are demanding management address severe underpayment and salary inequity

New York—Today NewsGuild of New York-represented editorial workers at Ziff Davis (J2 Global) announced that a supermajority of the membership have overwhelmingly voted to approve a strike should management continue bargaining in bad faith and fail to address the paltry wages that many editorial employees are currently paid. Ninety-seven percent of the membership participated in the strike authorization vote and 97% of the ballots cast were for strike authorization. The Ziff Davis Creators Guild sees this vote as a mandate that provides a clear message to management: We are worth more. 

The members of the Ziff Davis Creators Guild have been at the bargaining table for over two years since announcing their union effort and winning voluntary recognition in late 2018. In that time, members have engaged in collective, concerted and escalating actions to move management toward more just and serious bargaining. Notably, Ziff Davis garnered big victories last year in securing just cause, no exceptions, as well as robust DEI policies. 

“We are ready to do what it takes to win our contract,” said Max Eddy, Unit Chair of the Ziff Davis Creators Guild. “While our members believe in the work we do, we equally believe that we deserve a contract that reflects the value and the amount of work we put into Ziff Davis — especially during the pandemic. The company has continued to bargain in bad faith and insists on unacceptable and inequitable wage proposals, despite J2 Global’s record profit on the backs of the editorial employees who have worked tirelessly to deliver critical stories and content. We have had enough and we stand strong and united to get a fair deal.” 

Management’s most recent wage proposals offered no across-the-board raises in the first year of the contract, refused to raise the entry-level salary minimum, and insisted on arbitrarily keeping a large part of the unit in the lowest salary tier, creating significant salary disparities.   

“Our members do strong work, we know we do strong work, and we know we deserve to be compensated fairly for that strong work,” said Jordan Minor, a member of the ZDCG Bargaining Committee and NewsGuild of New York Executive Committee. “We’ve taken this step to finally settle this contract and empower our workplace to continue doing this work we’re all so passionate about.” 

“Our shop is made up of all sorts of disciplines — from reporters, to video producers, and designers — all of whom simply want to be paid a sustainable wage that is not only instrumental to keep doing work that we all love, but to also simply live,” said Jess Joho, a member of the ZDCG Unit Council.  

“What we're seeing here is not exclusive to our shop. There is huge momentum fighting for journalists' labor rights across the media industry. We are thankful for the support we are getting from our colleagues across the country as we demand that Ziff Davis management bargain in good faith,” added Elvie Mae Parian, a member of the ZDCG Unit Council.  

“Guild members at Ziff Davis are leading the way in showing media bosses that, together, we will do whatever it takes to ensure a contract that protects and values every single one of our colleagues,” said Susan DeCarava, President of The NewsGuild of New York. “It’s time for J2 Global and Ziff Davis management to come to the table in good faith with proposals that recognize the real value of Guild members’ labor and  that are respectful of their contributions to the company’s ongoing success. Simply put, they deserve more and are ready to fight for what they deserve.” 

Follow and stay up to date: @nyguild | @zdcreatorsguild
Learn more: nyguild.org  

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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. The NewsGuild of New York advocates for journalists to have a voice in the newsroom, for press freedom, for inclusive and diverse workplaces, and for just cause, no exceptions, for all media professionals.