(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) - An overwhelming majority of Los Angeles Times Journalists have voted to authorize their Union’s Leaders to call a Strike if such a step is necessary to reach a new contract. 

The Union announced 85% of the Los Angeles Times Guild, which represents Reporters, Editors, Designers, Photographers and other Journalists at the West Coast’s largest newspaper, voted to support the Strike.

Just over 200 Workers - 98% of the Union’s Members - took part in the historic vote.

The large margin gives the Guild’s Unit Council and Bargaining Team the authority to call for a work stoppage.

A Strike has not been scheduled.

Times management and the Newsroom Union, a Unit of Media Guild of the West (The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 39213), have been bargaining over a new contract for more than three grueling years.

During that period, the newspaper has endured multiple rounds of layoffs and buyouts, leaving the Guild with slightly more than 200 Members, down from about 450 in 2022. 

“These negotiations have dragged on for far too long and (this) vote shows our Members are fed up,” said Investigative Reporter Matt Hamilton, who serves as the Chair of the L.A. Times Guild. “Now is the time for management to come to the table with a proposal that is truly fair for our Members and helps restore The Times.”

The newsroom’s remaining Journalists have gone four years without a cost-of-living increase, even as inflation pushed the cost of food, rent, health care and other essentials steadily upward. 

During the protracted negotiations, the Guild accused the company of trying to intimidate Guild Members out of participating in collective bargaining or other Union activities, filing an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In April, the NLRB found the Guild’s allegations had merit and issued a complaint against The Times.

A hearing is scheduled for next year. 

The newspaper’s Journalists are also fighting to preserve existing layoff protections and guardrails to prevent work from being outsourced to third-party companies and Non-Union labor. 

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: RELEASE: L.A. Times journalists vote to authorize strike newsroom’s first open-ended strike | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA