The year 2024 witnessed several significant labor disputes within major media organizations, including the New York Times, NBC, and Forbes. These clashes highlighted the growing tensions between management and newly formed unions, often revolving around contract negotiations and perceived unfair labor practices.

New York Times Tech Guild Strike

The New York Times faced a major disruption during the crucial 2024 election week when its tech guild, representing 600 members responsible for the newspaper's digital infrastructure, initiated a week-long strike. The guild, which had been negotiating a contract for over two years, protested what they deemed "unfair labor practices." The strike impacted various aspects of the Times' online operations, from the timely display of election results to website performance and ad revenue. While a Times spokesperson downplayed the disruption, the guild reported significant technical issues and reader inconvenience. The strike concluded with employees returning to work without a contract, but an agreement was eventually reached in December.

New York Times Tech Guild picketing. (Fox News Digital)

New York Times tech worker strike (Fox News)

Solidarity with striking tech employees on Election Day 2024. (Fox News Digital)

NBC Digital Union's Public Protest

The NBC Digital NewsGuild, representing various digital news staff, took a different approach in their ongoing contract dispute. Having been in negotiations since unionizing in 2019, the guild projected messages onto 30 Rock, NBC's headquarters, criticizing management for alleged unlawful behavior, including layoffs and retaliation against union members. The guild highlighted a previous National Labor Relations Board finding against NBC regarding withheld raises. As of the end of 2024, a contract agreement had not been reached.

Forbes Union Targets "30 Under 30" Launch

The Forbes Union staged a walkout on December 3, 2024, coinciding with the release of the magazine's high-profile "30 Under 30" list. The union, representing editorial staff, aimed to draw attention to their nearly three-year contract fight, alleging that management had been stalling negotiations and misclassifying union members to weaken their bargaining power. The union emphasized the significant effort involved in producing the "30 Under 30" list, highlighting the contributions of its members. No contract had been reached by the end of the year.

Forbes Union walkout (Forbes Union)

Forbes Union walkout (Forbes Union)