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Protests as New York Times accused of union busting

PROTESTS took place outside the offices of the New York Times on Saturday as the newspaper’s bosses were accused of union-busting tactics to divide workers.

Anger erupted after management announced that it would honour three public holidays – Juneteenth, Veterans Day and Indigenous People’s Day – for non-union employees only.

Meanwhile, the New York Times Tech Guild is balloting 650 members for union recognition after bosses refused to grant it voluntarily.

The National Labour Relations Board has accused the newspaper of undermining union activity and using scare tactics to deter workers  from organising collectively.

Ballot papers will be sent out on January 24 and are due back by February 28. Votes will be counted in March 7.

“We are one step closer to winning our union and the rights we deserve,” the guild said.

It hit out at the union-busting and said that the labour board would “hold a trial to prosecute [the New York Times] for violating labour law,” adding that it remains determined to win recognition.

“We will continue to defend our rights and each other and will not be deterred by these tactics,” the guild said.

The New York Times Guild, which represents 1,300 media workers at the newspaper, said that it stood in solidarity with the tech staff.

“The New York Times union-busting playbook is getting real old,” it said in a statement. “They continue attempts to union-bust, but the unity of members across the Times is just growing stronger. And we’ll have their backs every step of the way.”

Journalist Liam Stack described the decision as “demoralising.”

He said: “New York Times’ overwhelmingly white management saying on the day before MLK [Martin Luther King] weekend that the Juneteenth holiday celebrating black liberation will now only be a day off for the NYT’s overwhelmingly white management … business schools will teach this in class of self-inflicted PR wounds.”

Sarah Kobos of the Wirecutters Union described the paper’s action as “a new low for union-busting.”

The New York Times was contacted for comment.

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