(NEW YORK CITY) – Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) Members employed at Hearst Magazines and management have reached a deal on their second three-year contract, which was overwhelmingly ratified with 98% approval by the 410-Member Bargaining Unit.

The contract establishes 2%-to-3% raises - the 2026 raise applied retroactively to January 1st, 2026, and increases salary minimums in the lowest tier by 11.8% to $62,400 in every location.

Other highlights include improved severance protections and improved 401(k) and retirement benefits, with the company providing a 100% match on the first 3% of Employee 401(k) contributions. 

The new contract expires April 29th, 2029, establishing a more favorable bargaining timeline.

The Hearst Magazines Union Bargaining Committee said: “We made many important gains - better raises, higher wage floors and an improved 401k match, for Members of our Unit with this contract. We also know there is still a great deal of work to be done to make Hearst Magazines a place we can all be proud of. We hope this ratification sends a clear message to management that we are only getting stronger and more cohesive as time goes on and that we will always fight for a more equitable workplace.”

Hearst won Union Recognition in July 2020 and ratified its first contract in May 2023 following escalations that included multiple Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges, Worker-led walkouts and a rally at Hearst Tower.

This hard-fought second contract was won after facing similar resistance from Hearst management. 

Members delivered a Strike Pledge signed by 85% of the Unit, participated in walkouts and rallies across Manhattan and at Hearst Offices in: Los Angeles, California; Easton, Pennsylvania; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Birmingham, Alabama - and agreed to bargain past the contract’s January 31st, 2026 expiration date.

The Hearst Magazines Union includes Hearst Magazine publications Autoweek, Best Products, Bicycling, Car and Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Delish, ELLE, ELLE Decor, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, HGTV Magazine, HOT ROD, House Beautiful, Men’s Health, MotorTrend, Oprah Daily, The Pioneer Woman, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Road & Track, Runner’s World, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, Woman’s Day, and Women’s Health.

In addition to Hearst Magazines, the WGA East’s Online Media Sector includes Bustle Digital Group, Civic News Group, Committee to Protect Journalists, Fast Company & Inc., Financial Times Specialist, Future PLC, Gizmodo Media USA, Jalopnik at Static Media, HuffPost, Jewish Currents, NowThis, Onion Inc., Salon, Slate, Talking Points Memo, The Intercept, The Root, Vox Media and VICE.

WGA East represents more than 7,500 Members who work in film, television, news, podcasts and on-line media.

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