GMG Union Declares Victory, Ending Media Strike

GMG Union, the writers union that went on strike comprising writers from Kotaku, Gizmodo and other websites under G/O Media Group, has declared victory after 4 days of protest.

In an update on their website, they said that their parent company had agreed to meet their demands, including raising minimum salaries for writers as well as trans-inclusive healthcare for their workers.

“To this end, G/O Media agreed to raise salary minimums, severance, and parental leave; maintain our healthcare while requiring it to be trans-inclusive; and ensure annual increases for our Unit members“, the union said in a statement.

According to the website, here’s a list of the conditions that were approved:

• Higher salary minimums for all positions, including $62,000 at the lowest tier in 2022 (up from $55,000), with an additional $1,000 each year for the life of the contract

• Guaranteed 3% annual raises for all unit members

• 15 weeks parental leave

• 12 weeks minimum severance

• Maintained our current cost-sharing cap for healthcare

• WPATH-compliant, trans-inclusive healthcare

• Defeated management’s proposal to give up bargaining rights over changes to healthcare mid-contract

• 45K diversity effort budget with audit and transparency

• Goal of 40% of candidates at the hiring manager interview stage from underrepresented backgrounds

• Retained right to publicly speak about working conditions, including social media escalation campaigns

• Strengthened editorial independence language; management must now adhere to both G/O Media’s editorial policy and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics

• Obtained guarantees against forced relocation for current remote staff

The agreement with the union was a sudden one- just last night the Union’s progress update mentioned they were still struggling to get the salary minimums approved by G/O Media.

“We were at the bargaining table until 1 a.m. this morning”, yesterday’s update reads. “We could have gotten a deal but the company lawyer said our proposals were “so close yet so far away.” We’re only $3,000 apart from the company on salary minimums for our lowest-paid workers. Three thousand”.

The writers of Kotaku, Gizmodo and more forewent their paychecks while on strike, and the union also raised money to pay them for the work lost during the course of the strike.

To this end, the GMG Union offered their thanks to all the support from the community:

“We want to thank everyone who joined us on the picket line, our vocal supporters on social media, and those who gave to our GoFundMe. Your donations have ensured that none of our staffers and regular contractors had to lose a full paycheck to fight for a fair contract. The money we raised will be given to those who forwent a paycheck while withholding their labor for better working conditions”, they said.

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