CondÉ Nast, the publisher of publications such as VOGUE, Vanity fair, Pitchfork and The New Yorker has agreed to raise the minimum wage for employees after a campaign by the New Yorker union.
The union had previously organised a protest, which saw New Yorker staff demonstrating outside VOGUE editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s home. Placards at the protest had slogans like “you can’t eat prestige” and “fair pay now”.
The union has been representing The New Yorker workers, including fact-checkers and editorial staff, for more than two and a half years of pay disputes.
They also launched a website, where they threatened a mass strike. Now, the union, along with unions for Ars Technica and Pitchfork have agreed to a deal.
The minimum salary has been raised to US$60,000, which is an increase of up to 63 per cent for some workers. Limitations for healthcare cost increases have been inreoduced, and a new commitment to diversity will see at least 50 per cent of interviewed job candidates coming from minority backgrounds.
In a statement, the three unions said they “are proud to announce that we have averted a strike and reached an agreement in principle on our first contracts.”
“These gains are the direct result of collective action – including a credible strike threat – proving that when we stand together and fight, we win.”
David Muto, copy editor at The New Yorker and first vice-chair of the publication’s union, tweeted: “this contract will change lives and, we hope, change the industry.”
It is Condé Nast’s first ever labor agreement.
A statement from the media organisation to CNN said, “over the last year, Condé Nast’s new executive leadership team has implemented equitable compensation and inclusive benefits standards across our workforce. These standards are now reflected in our agreement with union employees.”
Union members must now vote to ratify the deal.
Featured Image: Instagram/@newyorkermag
