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2019-02-13 Home Front: Culture Wars

BuzzFeed votes to unionize after layoffs

Liberal Listicle Money Drain Defies Gravity
[10News] After a crushing round of layoffs that sent shockwaves through the newsroom, BuzzFeed's editorial staff announced on Tuesday that they have formed a union to grapple with the threats looming over the media industry.

Employees have informed BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith of their intentions, according to the NewsGuild of New York ‐ the union with which BuzzFeed is organizing. NewsGuild said that more than 90% of "eligible editorial employees signed on to the union effort."

BuzzFeed, once a darling in the digital media space, laid off 15% of its workforce last month . Employees took to Medium to write an open letter to the company's leadership team to express anger over BuzzFeed's decision not to pay laid-off staffers for earned paid time off. CEO Jonah Peretti eventually relented after the backlash .

However, it appears that the effort to unionize started before the latest round of cuts, with the NewsGuild calling it a "months long organizing drive." Included in the demands are PTO payouts, reasonable severance and due process for termination ‐ a list that shows that staffers are bracing for more turmoil.

Posted by Frank G 2019-02-13 06:23|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 Because if there's anything better than a crew of people yammering mindlessly, it's a crew of people yammering mindlessly with collective bargaining.

Posted by ed in texas 2019-02-13 07:32|| 2019-02-13 07:32|| Front Page Top

#2 ...Popcorn, anyone?

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2019-02-13 08:28|| 2019-02-13 08:28|| Front Page Top

#3 I foresee them collectively deciding how to split zero.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2019-02-13 08:30|| 2019-02-13 08:30|| Front Page Top

#4 IIRR they laid off 10% about 2 months before that.

The trouble with mass firings is those most able to work,i.e. the most productive and therefore profitable, tend to be easiest to temp into leaving.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2019-02-13 08:32|| 2019-02-13 08:32|| Front Page Top

#5 ...reasonable severance and due process for termination

"Here's $10.00 - now get the fuck out!"

Posted by Raj 2019-02-13 09:11|| 2019-02-13 09:11|| Front Page Top

#6 It wasn't hate when they told coal miners to 'learn to code'. Then again, to them, coal miners weren't the 'right people'.

Posted by Procopius2k 2019-02-13 09:48|| 2019-02-13 09:48|| Front Page Top

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