(NEW YORK CITY) - Around 20 Editorial Staffers at The New York Times rallied last week to highlight their push for a new contract outside a gala celebrating the Newspaper's 175th anniversary in Tribeca.

“This is a show of unity,” said Senior Editor and Times Guild Unit Chair Jim Luttrell. “It’s a message to the management: Congratulations on (175) years. We’re very proud of it, but don't forget that we’re a big part of why you’ve been here for (175) years and we think you should value that and reward us right now today with the contract we deserve.”

The Times Guild, a Bargaining Unit of the NewsGuild of New York, comprises around 1,500 Reporters, Editors, Photographers and more Workers at The New York Times.

The Union’s contract expired on February 28th and it has been negotiating a new deal with management since January. 

Workers say they are fighting for five core priorities: Wages; Health Care; Protections against Artificial Intelligence (AI); Hybrid work flexibility; and Keeping Union jobs within the Union.

A flyer that Workers passed out to those walking into the gala stated that “Times management has the money to support a healthy workforce - but they are choosing not to. That’s going to cost the company and its journalism more in the long run.”

Luttrell, who’s worked at The Times for 31 years, said the message that the Union has received from management is “the company doesn’t want to spend their money on us,” and that it doesn’t “value us in the way that they should.”

He added that The Times is focusing on “rewarding stockholders and paying executive compensation instead of taking care of the Workers who make this the place that it is.”

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