The Issues

What We’ve Won

The Insider Union's Bargaining Committee has been meeting with Insider executives and general counsel regularly since Fall 2021. In that time, we've secured huge contract wins and improved the newsroom in unbellevable ways.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • JUST CAUSE: Most US workers are "at will" employees, which means they can be fired at any time for no reason and without explanation. Our new union contract will designate us as "just cause" employees, which means managers must prove that they have a specific, valid reason for disciplining or terminating an employee. Union members facing discipline also have the right to have a union representative accompany them to any disciplinary meeting.

  • NO DISCIPLINE FOR METRICS: Insider is and has always been a data-driven newsroom, to the point that countless employees have been disciplined or fired for metrics that they can't control. Following weeks of marches and actions in late 2022, union members can no longer be disciplined solely based on metric performance.

  • DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: Insider management has promised to improve newsroom diversity for years, with lackluster results. Once our contract goes into effect, at least 50% of job candidates at the edit test stage or equivalent will come from groups traditionally underrepresented in journalism (e.g., women, people of color, those identifying as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and military veterans). This Is one of the strongest DEl initiatives in the entire journalism industry.

  • PAID TIME OFF: All union employees, regardless of location, are entitled to at least 10 days of bereavement leave per year, unlimited Jury duty leave, at least 12 weeks of family leave, 120 hours of sick & safe time, and 24 hours of COVID leave. And all employees, regardless of gender, are entitled to 16 weeks of parental leave.

This is in addition to smaller wins, Including two new floating holidays, the ability to provide references, a permanent hybrid working policy, and more.

We're invested in the future of our newsroom and proud to make Insider a better workplace for all our colleagues.

What We’re Still Fighting For

Although we’ve been bargaining with Insider management for nearly two years now, there are still a few key points that they refuse to agree to fair terms on.

  • WAGES: We’re asking for a guaranteed wage increase of 5% in 2023 and 4.5% in the years following, going into effect on April 1 each year. Insider management insists on a lower 3.25% increase for employees making under $100k, and 2.5% for employees making over, with a boatload of caveats that give them permission to pay less.

  • HEALTH INSURANCE: In late 2022, Insider management illegally changed employees’ health insurance without bargaining with the union, significantly raising healthcare costs throughout the unit. In response the union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge, which the National Labor Relations Board found merit in. We’re now asking Insider to repay the money employees have spent on healthcare, and agree to pay a larger proportion of healthcare costs in the future — asks which management has routinely dismissed.

  • JURISDICTION: Both sides agree that all editorial employees are eligible for union benefits. But management is reserving the right to outsource union work to non-union employees, freelancers, and possibly even artificial intelligence tools. This is unacceptable, and undermines our newsroom.

This is in addition to smaller battles over PTO, 401k matching, and professional development funds.

We won’t stop fighting until we earn a contract that treats all our unit members with respect.