The BuzzFeed NewsUnion got a rude awakening today when they were stood up by execs they’d hoped would cave to their demands:
We came to the table today ready to meet with BuzzFeed execs about finally recognizing our union. Five minutes after the meeting was scheduled to start, they told us they weren’t going to show up. pic.twitter.com/Pa9aBsOeaM
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
This meeting was a crucial opportunity to make progress in agreeing on a bargaining unit, after more than 7 weeks of frustratingly slow communication with BuzzFeed. Instead, they abandoned today’s negotiations.
BuzzFeed management is engaging in clear union-busting.
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
Narrator: This isn’t union-busting.
The main issue: BuzzFeed has refused to recognize an editorial unit, and only wants to recognize an extremely restrictive list of titles. This would let them easily exclude people from our union and would inhibit flexibility in our jobs.
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
We're a dynamic newsroom where desks and teams collaborate freely and employees are encouraged to experiment. The union is determined to maintain that spirit — and that’s why we need to be recognized as a full editorial unit.
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
We’ve repeatedly asked @peretti and @BuzzFeedBen to join us in these negotiations and take an interest in what their employees are fighting for. They’ve declined our invitations. But we must be clear: They have the power to recognize our union now.
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
Read our full letter to our @BuzzFeedNews colleagues, and please — if you support the journalism that we do, support the BuzzFeed News Union. pic.twitter.com/7W3WGKOiUN
— BuzzFeed News Union (@bfnewsunion) April 3, 2019
Wait … BuzzFeed does journalism? Now that would be news. It would also be news if we felt even remotely sorry for these self-important, self-unaware clowns.
Congrats to @BuzzFeedBen. This reboot of "Norma Rae" looks ? https://t.co/Nhx4qZpUMr
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) April 3, 2019
my god, it's the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire all over againhttps://t.co/S57EAKU7uS
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) April 3, 2019
Did you tell them that ALL SIX of you were coming https://t.co/ZwJk6ZO54j
— Justin Walton (@JustinRWalton) April 3, 2019
#BuzzFeedSoWhite https://t.co/uLvbr0JRvG
— Eric Spencer (@JustEric) April 3, 2019
Also, the lack of diversity at the BuzzFeed union is troubling. Good for management shutting down a meet. https://t.co/Hag2BN0RKJ
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) April 3, 2019
— Dave Reeves (@OzarkFinesseGuy) April 3, 2019
— Ryan (@alwaysonoffense) April 3, 2019
— Ryan (@alwaysonoffense) April 3, 2019
"Block Workplace Unionization with this One Weird Trick"
— thisispointless (@thisispointless) April 3, 2019
You majored in journalism, you work at BuzzFeed: you have to be used to letdowns by now. https://t.co/O4L038Q4aN
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) April 3, 2019
You want to form a union in a dying company? You're just a few steps from layoffs.
— Keith Barrett (@KeithBarrett) April 3, 2019
Since their union ambitions seem to be a bust, here’s a suggestion:
You all might want to learn to code, just in case BuzzFeed collapses and you need a new career.
— JeffC (@JeffChrz) April 3, 2019
Hope they can handle it.
#LearnToCope https://t.co/SutBdIeTGW
— Baby AOC (@GayPatriot) April 3, 2019
You can do it, guys!