Vox Media Union

Vox Media Union. It is a collective bargaining unit representing hundreds of editorial, video, and engineering staff across the digital media company Vox Media. Organized under the auspices of the Writers Guild of America, East, the union was formed to address issues of pay equity, job security, and editorial independence. Its establishment marked a significant moment in a wave of unionization efforts that swept through American digital media outlets in the late 2010s.

History and formation

The movement to form a union at Vox Media began in earnest in 2017, amidst a broader trend of labor organizing at companies like Gawker Media, The Huffington Post, and Slate. Employees, including senior editors and reporters from flagship sites such as Vox, The Verge, SB Nation, and Eater, cited concerns over transparency in compensation and the increasing influence of corporate interests on editorial content. The drive was publicly announced in a letter to Jim Bankoff, the CEO of Vox Media, and was supported by a supermajority of eligible staff. This period of organizing aligned with similar actions at Condé Nast publications and the Los Angeles Times.

Unionization efforts and recognition

Following the announcement, the union organizing committee, which included prominent journalists like Megan Greenwell and Laura M. Browning, sought voluntary recognition from Vox Media management. When the company declined to recognize the union voluntarily, the organizers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board in January 2018. An election was subsequently held, and in April 2018, staff voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionization, officially certifying the Writers Guild of America, East as their bargaining representative. This victory followed a similar successful vote by employees at The New Yorker and preceded union wins at BuzzFeed News and The New York Times Tech Guild.

Contract negotiations and key agreements

Initial contract negotiations with Vox Media management, led by executives including Marty Moe, proved lengthy and contentious, stretching over fourteen months. Key sticking points included salary minimums, equitable pay scales across the company's diverse brands like Recode and Polygon, and protections against arbitrary dismissal. A landmark first contract was ratified in June 2019, establishing significant gains such as guaranteed annual raises, clear disciplinary procedures, and a minimum salary of $56,000 for all union members. Subsequent negotiations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on preserving jobs and securing severance benefits, influenced by precedents set in agreements at The Washington Post and NBCUniversal.

Structure and membership

The union represents approximately 300 employees in editorial, video, and engineering roles across the entire portfolio of Vox Media. Its structure operates through an elected bargaining committee and unit council, which liaises with representatives from the Writers Guild of America, East. Membership includes staff from a wide array of the company's verticals, including Curbed, Vox.com, and The Verge, but excludes managers, supervisors, and employees of the company's advertising division, Vox Media Podcast Network. This structure is analogous to other WGA East units at places like The Onion and ABC News.

Impact and significance

The formation and success of the union had a profound impact on the digital media landscape, serving as a model and catalyst for organizing drives at other major outlets like The Atlantic and Forbes. Its contract established new industry standards for minimum pay and transparency, influencing labor discussions across the sector. The union has also been active in mobilizing around broader social issues, participating in actions like the Google walkout and advocating for diversity and inclusion policies. Its existence underscores a permanent shift in labor relations within the Silicon Valley-adjacent media industry, setting a precedent followed by workers at Apple Inc. and The New York Times.

Category:Writers Guild of America, East Category:Trade unions in the United States Category:Vox Media