BuzzFeed staffers establish NewsGuild as union bargaining agent

A bitter five-month battle between BuzzFeed management and its workers’ union ended Tuesday when a third-party definitively established the NewsGuild of New York as the official bargaining agent for about 80 US news-side employees.

Now comes the really hard part: hammering out a first contract covering everything from wages and severance to diversity and retirement and health plans.

BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti only officially dropped his opposition to the union late last week after the union agreed to leave workers on a daily show on Twitter and a weekly show on Facebook out of the bargaining unit.

Tensions have been high since BuzzFeed axed over 200 employees, or 15% of its workforce, in January after it missed its revenue targets. In March, 90% of editorial workers submitted pledge cards in support of the union. After months of being ignored by management, angry workers staged a four-hour walkout that paralyzed the site in mid-June.

“We stayed strong in the face of fierce resistance from BuzzFeed management,” said Rachel Sanders, deputy culture editor and member of the union’s organizing committee. “Now that we’re finally recognized, I’m excited to bargain for a contract that will not only make this a stronger newsroom and company, but raise the bar for how workers are treated across our industry.”

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