The six-member editorial workers at Speaking Factors Memo has voted unanimously to ratify the WGA East’s new three-year contract with the political information web site.
“The guild’s new collective bargaining settlement with Speaking Factors Memo raises the bar for on-line media employees, setting requirements that sustain with cost-of-living bills and the state of the {industry},” mentioned WGA East Government Director Lowell Peterson. “It’s rewarding, particularly for guild members working at Speaking Factors Memo, to see an organization stay as much as the values it espouses on-line.”
The brand new contract will see the minimal wage go from $52,000 as much as $65,000 in January 2025. Staff making under $75,000 will obtain a 3.5% wage improve in annually of the contract, these making as much as $100,000 will obtain 3.25% annual wage will increase, and staffers making over $100,000 will obtain 3% annual wage will increase.
The corporate additionally agreed to extend severance minimums from six weeks to eight, with two extra weeks per 12 months after 4 years of employment. The severance cap has been elevated from 12 weeks to 18, and parental depart was elevated from 10 weeks to 16.
Based on the guild, the contract additionally options new comp time language, extra trip days, extra cash towards skilled growth, an elevated mobile phone stipend, improved well being and security requirements, commitments to range and non-discrimination protections, amongst different beneficial properties.
“We’re thrilled to have received the combat for a contract that protects and improves working requirements at Speaking Factors Memo,” the six-member bargaining unit mentioned in a press release. “After eight months of bargaining, we have now received key concessions from administration that embody industry-standard wage flooring, a comp time coverage that meets the wants of our unit, and annual will increase that guarantee members’ pay will preserve tempo with inflation. This contract wouldn’t have been doable with out the solidarity and teamwork of the whole TPM unit. We’re pleased with this contract, our unit, and WGAE, which helped to safe the provisions on this contract that every one of our members deserve.”
That is the guild’s second contract with the corporate. In 2019, its 11-member editorial workers unanimously ratified their first union contract with the guild. A 12 months earlier, they’d signed a letter expressing their intent to hitch the guild, and writer Josh Marshall instantly acknowledged the WGA East as their bargaining consultant.
Along with Speaking Factors Media, the 7,000-member guild’s On-line Media Sector contains Huffpost, Salon, Slate, Vice, Vox Media, Hearst Magazines, MTV Information, the Committee to Shield Journalists, Gizmodo Media Group, BDG, Chalkbeat, Quick Firm, FT Specialist, Future PLC, Jewish Currents, NowThis, Onion Inc., Refinery29, The Dodo, The Intercept and Thrillist.
