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Lettering on the »New York Times« building: »Intense efforts to make progress«
Photo: Mark Lennihan/AP
According to union information, more than a thousand employees of the "New York Times" walked down their jobs on Thursday at midnight.
The NewsGuild union said it was the first industrial action at the publisher in 40 years.
Journalists and other workers at the well-known US newspaper went on strike for 24 hours after collective bargaining between the workers and the company collapsed.
According to NewsGuild, management is refusing to adjust workers' salaries to reflect rising inflation.
A spokeswoman for the newspaper said negotiations with the workers had not been broken off.
It is therefore “disappointing that they resort to such extreme measures”.
»Ready to do whatever is necessary«
The union had already announced a strike last week if no agreement was reached on a new contract.
On Thursday morning, NewsGuild tweeted that workers are now officially walking down.
It was the first strike of this magnitude for the company in 40 years.
It is never an easy decision to turn down the work you love, it says: »But our members are willing to do whatever it takes to push for better editing for everyone.«
Negotiations took place on Tuesday and part of Wednesday, but the sides remained far apart on issues such as wage increases and home office work.
According to NewsGuild, no agreement was reached.
"We were willing to work as long as necessary to reach a fair settlement," the union wrote on Twitter.
"But five hours before the end of the negotiations, the management left the negotiating table."
In a letter to the union obtained by the AP news agency, deputy editor Cliff Levy described the strike as "puzzling".
It succeeds "despite the company's intensive efforts to make progress".
isb/AFP/AP