The New York Times Tech Guild has gone on strike, urging readers to avoid popular games like Wordle and Connections on the Times’ website in solidarity. The union, which represents over 600 tech employees, claims management has stalled contract negotiations and committed unfair labor practices.
The guild, composed of software engineers, designers, product managers and data analysts, has been negotiating for two years to secure its first contract.
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According to the union, management implemented a return-to-office policy without bargaining and attempted to intimidate members who chose to strike.
To maintain a digital picket line, the guild has released alternative versions of the Times’ games, allowing players to enjoy Wordle and Connections without supporting the Times’ platforms.
Among the union’s demands are greater job security, pay equity to address racial disparities and an end to allegedly discriminatory disciplinary practices. The guild claims that women and people of color have been disproportionately targeted by management’s actions, which it described as “arbitrary.”
Additionally, the union cited a specific incident in which an employee was terminated days before undergoing major surgery. While these alternate games won’t preserve players’ ongoing streaks, they replicate the experiences of the Times’ original games and are a visible part of the guild’s strike efforts.
To support union members during the strike, the guild has launched a GoFundMe campaign, with many members asking for public backing to pressure the Times to address worker concerns.
[Karah Rucker]
THE NEW YORK TIMES TECH GUILD, A GROUP OF OVER 600 UNIONIZED WORKERS, IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRIKE OF THE PAPER, AND THEY’RE ASKING READERS TO AVOID POPULAR GAMES LIKE WORDLE AND CONNECTIONS ON THE TIMES’ WEBSITE AS A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY… AND TO PLAY THEIR ‘STRIKE EDITIONS’ INSTEAD.
THE STRIKE BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, AND IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PAY. THESE TECH WORKERS, INCLUDING SOFTWARE ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS, AND DATA ANALYSTS, HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TIMES’ MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR FIRST CONTRACT FOR TWO YEARS. THEY SAY MANAGEMENT HAS DELAYED TALKS, AND EVEN COMMITTED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES ALONG THE WAY.
THE UNION WANTS THE TIMES TO ADDRESS RACIAL PAY DISPARITIES, ENSURE JOB SECURITY, AND CURB WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS UNFAIR DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES. THEY ALLEGE MANAGEMENT HAS TARGETED WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND EVEN FIRED ONE WORKER RIGHT BEFORE A MAJOR SURGERY.
THE GUILD CREATED THEIR OWN VERSIONS OF GAMES LIKE WORDLE… RENAMED ‘STRIKE-EL’, AND ‘CONNECTIONS: STRIKE EDITION,’ SO THAT FANS CAN PLAY WITHOUT, AS THEY PUT IT, “CROSSING THE PICKET LINE.”
THE UNION’S GRIEVANCES GO BACK TO THE TIMES’ RETURN-TO-OFFICE POLICIES, WHICH THEY SAY WERE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT BARGAINING. THE GUILD HAS LAUNCHED A GO-FUND-ME TO HELP SUPPORT MEMBERS DURING THE STRIKE.
The TIMES RELEASED A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE GUILD’S STRIKE.
While we respect the union’s right to engage in protected actions, we’re disappointed that colleagues would strike at this time…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.”
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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