The union representing writers and editors at Slate announced that members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike as the union and management continues to negotiate a new contract:
Today we’re announcing the results of our strike authorization vote. Last week, 100 percent of our bargaining unit voted and 98 percent chose to authorize a strike if necessary. We’re proud of this overwhelming representation of solidarity.
— Slate Union (@SlateUnion) December 11, 2018
We’ve been bargaining our contract for 8 months. We’re excited by a lot of what we’ve achieved at the table. But we’re still dismayed by management’s position on certain key issues.
— Slate Union (@SlateUnion) December 11, 2018
The union members, who write many articles against right-to-work laws, are outraged that management wants to include a right-to-work clause in the contract:
Most crucially, our unit continues to be outraged by management’s inclusion of a right-to-work clause, a technique designed to degrade the legitimacy of our union. Read more: https://t.co/hWCfbfvl9f
— Slate Union (@SlateUnion) December 11, 2018
We love Slate. We want make the strongest, best Slate possible. But Slate is its workers—it’s the writers, editors, producers, and staffers who make the magazine.
— Slate Union (@SlateUnion) December 11, 2018
We call on Slate management to agree to union security, and to respond meaningfully to our economic proposals. As indicated by the overwhelming majority represented in our vote, we are prepared to strike.
— Slate Union (@SlateUnion) December 11, 2018
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In other words, Slate’s managers love all of the clicks from articles bashing right-to-work laws, but that pro-union view is only other companies:
Exclusive: Slate employees have authorized a strike: https://t.co/OngE4NMgor Vote to green-light work stoppage was 52 to 1. @WGAEast members say Slate is hypocritically insisting on the sort of "right-to-work" policy in its own workplace that gets roundly denounced on its website
— Josh Eidelson (@josheidelson) December 11, 2018
It’s time to “step up and live by the values the publication espouses,” writes the HuffPost union:
Solidarity with our fellow workers at @SlateUnion, who today voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
It's time for CEO @danathan and the rest of @Slate management to step up and live by the values the publication espouses. https://t.co/ZlLlubZfCo
— HuffPost Union (@HuffPostUnion) December 11, 2018
No date has been set for a strike, however:
This does not mean we are striking yet. There are still more bargaining sessions. But the staff has greenlit a strike if need be.
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) December 11, 2018
More from Bloomberg:
Slate’s editorial employees authorized the potential strike by a vote of 52 to 1, according to a spokesman for the Writers Guild of America – East, and are now weighing when they may walk off the job. Along with stronger diversity policies and cost of living increases, the union wants the company to back off its insistence on making union fees optional, the kind of “right-to-work” policy loathed by liberals and organized labor.
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Related:
Slate writer troubled by thoughts of the ‘unwelcome semi-hotness of Ted Cruz’s new beard’ https://t.co/YEhf7ngbdp
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 9, 2018
Barking up the WRONG tree! NPR blue-check doubles down on Slate writer’s anti-dog narrative, says she doesn’t get ‘animal people’ https://t.co/giySVL3dSy
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 7, 2018
Dear Slate: Do you have a problem with this hero dog, too? https://t.co/J6DtZmj3VB
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 6, 2018
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