Topline:
The union representing L.A. Times journalists overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike for the first time ever Thursday as they entered the third year of contract negotiations. A strike has not yet been scheduled.
What’s new: Union members say they haven’t had a cost-of-living increase since 2021 and have faced intimidation from management to organize. They also want protections against layoffs and stronger guardrails against work done by “freelancers, temps and work done by other companies owned by” Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong.
Is this historic? Yes, this is the first-ever strike authorization by the L.A. Times Guild, which was formed in 2018. The union also held a one-day walkout in January 2024 to protest anticipated layoffs — the first newsroom work stoppage since the paper began printing in 1881, the Guild said.
The context: The union said 85% of its membership — which includes reporters, editors, designers, photographers and other journalists — voted to support the strike.
The backstory: The organization has been through multiple rounds of layoffs since it started negotiating its contract in September 2022. The union has shrunk from 450 members to just above 200 over the last two years, the L.A. Times Guild said. In August, 80% of its members pledged to vote yes on authorizing a strike.
Management response: LAist has reached out to the Times for comment.
What’s next: The guild said it will return to bargaining Oct. 14.