Vox Media Union reaches a probable agreement to avoid a dangerous clash

Vox Media Union reached an interim agreement with management over a new contract the weekend before its current contract expired, apparently avoiding a strike threat.

The East American Writers Guild, a group of editors and video crews involved in collective bargaining with brands such as Polygon and Eater, announced the deal on Saturday after a deal was reached that afternoon. The union’s first agreement expired on Monday, June 13 at 12pm, with ET and the union taking some initial steps towards the strike, although the suspension was still uncertain: 95% of union members signed the strike. . But unit members would still have to vote on the right to strike.

“This contract would not have been possible without the incredible solidarity we saw from our 360+ members, most of whom used Slack, Twitter and elsewhere to help control the fires as we worked to raise and secure salaries. The benefits all our members deserve,” Vox Media said in a statement. “95% of our affiliates have committed to go on strike on Monday, June 13, if an agreement is not reached, and that is what ended this agreement. We are very proud of your collective action and can’t wait to share more details once our unit votes to ratify the industry-leading contract. “

Vox Media Union members plan to vote on the pilot deal this week. Details of the deal will be announced after the vote, the union said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Vox Media said the company was “proud” of the preliminary agreement they had reached with the union. “This package is the product of months of trade and we are grateful to both sides of the committees,” the spokesperson added. “The deal reflects our commitment to investing in our employees and being a place where they can do their best work.

The possible agreement was reached after nearly six months of negotiations, during which members of the negotiating unit said they support growth and benefits, including inflation, diversity, equality and inclusive initiatives, and the contractual language remains in place. Sell ​​or merge, among other items. in an interview hollywood reporter In early June, Monica Chin, a senior reviewer at The Verge and a member of the Vox Media Union, said the association was propelling Vox members towards a “stable and rewarding long-term career.”

The strike threat at Vox Media comes just months after a five-day strike by the WGA East-backed G/O Media alliance (whose brands include Gizmodo and AV Club) began in March due to difficult contract negotiations. The first agreement reached by Vox Media Union was reached after union members participated in a one-day speech scheduled for the last day of negotiations in June 2019.