Los Angeles Times Journalists Approve New Guild Contract After 3 Years of Talks

Journalists at the Los Angeles Times have formally approved a new union contract, described by the Media Guild of the West as the conclusion of over three years of intense bargaining.

Reaching this point took far longer than it should have, said Matt Hamilton, chair of the unit and Metro section reporter, on Tuesday. Despite managements repeated attempts to block progress and create division, our members remained steadfast and emerged stronger. This contract reflects our determination.

The agreement, covering more than 200 newsroom employees, guarantees salary increases of at least $3,000 in the first year, $2,750 in the second, and $2,500 in the third. Employees at Times Community News will see raises of $5,000 in the first year and $4,000 in each of the following two years. Contractual pay minimums have also been updated to align with these new figures.

The Guild noted that throughout negotiations, the Times had attempted to roll back protections from the original 2019 contract. Union members successfully resisted efforts to broaden the use of non-union labor and weaken just-cause protections during disciplinary proceedings. While progress on seniority protections was limited, the union celebrated several key victories.

The negotiations occurred amid significant workforce changes, including multiple rounds of layoffs, buyouts, and voluntary departures. Guild membership declined from roughly 450 in 2022 to just over 200 this year.

The finalized contract follows an 85% strike authorization vote by LAT Guild members nearly two months prior. After the vote, management and the Guild engaged in a 20-hour bargaining session, culminating in a tentative agreement in November.

Key elements of the new contract include recognition of Juneteenth as a company holiday, expanded gender identity protections allowing employees to use their preferred names and pronouns, and the establishment of Guild-represented per diem employees, intended to reduce reliance on non-union temporary staff and freelancers.

Author: Chloe Ramirez