The NewsGuild of New York Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Condé Nast over Attempts to Intimidate Union Members

In at least three instances in the past month, unionized employees at Condé Nast, who were exercising their federally-protected right to take collective action to demand answers about pending layoffs, were met with security guards.

The most recent incident was after Thursday’s all-staff meeting at The New Yorker, where management announced layoffs. Several dozen members of The New Yorker Union, seeking transparency about who the company is targeting, went to the executive suite to demand answers. They were met with security guards who stood watch while workers asked Executive VP Cameron Bruce for more information about the layoffs.

Similarly, company security was called up to surveil workers on Nov. 8 when the Condé Nast Union marched to the executive offices and delivered a petition signed by over 350 people demanding a say in the company’s announced restructuring. Security guards also interrogated unionized staff from Bon Appétit and Epicurious who gathered in the Test Kitchen for a protest lunch on Nov. 15.

On Monday, The NewsGuild of New York filed an unfair labor practice charge on behalf of The New Yorker Union against the media publisher over management’s attempts to intimidate and surveil union members as they participated in protected concerted activity.

“All we wanted was answers,” said Hannah Aizenman, the associate poetry editor of The New Yorker and unit chair of The New Yorker Union. “We should not have to march on the boss to get specifics and transparency about our co-workers losing their jobs but we aren’t afraid to do it, even if there’s security.” Read more here.