On Tuesday, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)-represented staff at Vox Media delivered a strike
pledge signed by 95% of the bargaining unit to management, demanding a fair contract.
The current contract covering the 250-member Vox Media Union expires on June 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET. In addition to improved compensation and artificial intelligence (AI) guardrails, these workers are fighting as well for an agreement that also includes WGAE members at The Dodo, a Vox Media-owned publication. Vox Media Union members have received solidarity from across the movement during bargaining, including from eight different sports players’ associations that have issued a joint statement of support.
The strike pledge read, “We, the undersigned members of the Vox Media Union, are unwavering in our commitment to securing a collective bargaining agreement that fairly addresses the current economic environment, the rapidly evolving digital media landscape, and other issues that our unit has deemed as critical. That means minimum compensation and annual raises that reflect today’s economy and cost of living, a more just approach to Vox’s constant stream of layoffs, language that firmly ensures we will not be displaced by AI, a joint contract that includes our coworkers at The Dodo Union, and benefits befitting the employee-friendly workplace environment that Vox publicly praises itself for having. We will not accept a contract that fails to address these issues with strong guarantees. Should we not receive such a contract, we are prepared to strike.”
AFL-CIO Daily Brief