New York Times workers in largest strike in half a century

The workers of the New York Times decided to go on a 24-hour walkout as the problem was not resolved despite several rounds of meetings between the union leaders and the owners.

Photo । Reuters

The New York Times workers have announced a 24-hour strike (walkout) to demand higher pay, better health and retirement benefits.

The online version of the New York Times published the news at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday.

The war in Ukraine and related causes have increased the cost of living around the world. It has also hit the United States and has led to growing labor unrest in the country.

In the 1970s, New York Times workers went on a 24-hour strike to demand higher wages. Then such a big strike was not seen again.

The newspaper's reporters and editors went on strike on Thursday. They said that negotiations are going on between the company and the labor union. However, the talks have seen limited progress so far.

More than 1100 workers have signed the strike pledge.

On behalf of about 1,450 workers in the newsroom, advertising department and other departments, the union is negotiating with the owners to increase various benefits. In which salary increase, benefits related to health and retirement allowance and several other demands have been made.

Although there were several meetings between the two sides, no solution was found. Due to which the workers went on strike on Thursday.

Earlier Wednesday evening, a statement from the union announcing the strike said, "The wage offer they (the company) has made fails to address the economic pressures of the moment, far behind both ongoing inflation and the US average wage rate."

More than eighteen hundred people work in the newsroom of 'The Times'.

In a note sent to the newsroom, The Times executive editor Joe Kahn expressed frustration with Thursday's strike, saying, "Strikes usually occur when negotiations are deadlocked." Where we are today is not a situation to go on strike.

"Although the company and Newsguild are still at odds on a number of issues, our discussions are ongoing and we are moving towards an agreement."

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