Slate’s editorial staff has unanimously ratified their second collective bargaining arrangement with the WGA East. The new, three-year contract will cover 56 staffers and will see the minimum salary rise to $58,000 in 2024, from the current minimum $51,000.
Slate was granted union recognition in January 2018 and ratified its first collective agreement one year later.
“This contract improves upon the previous one with five additional weeks of parental leave, higher salary floors, guaranteed increases in annual cost of living raises for more than half of the staff, and other critical benefits,”According to the Slate/WGA East bargaining commission. “We are proud of the work we did with the WGA East to secure this contract and are hopeful for the future of Slate.”
The agreement now includes:
• 3% annual increases for any unit member making under $72,999. Unit members who make between $73,000- $93,999 will get a minimum of 2 percent annual increases. Individuals earning more than $94,000 will get a minimum increase in 2022, 2023 and 2024 of 1.75% and 2% respectively.
• A one-time ratification bonus of $750.
• 13 weeks of paid parental leave, increased from eight weeks.
• A budget of $10,000 a year for diversity initiatives, to be spent at the discretion of the Labor-Management Committee.
• Employees can use their personal stories without management interference for derivative works after four years, and Slate does not get to share any revenue.
• Juneteenth added as an additional holiday.
• In the event Slate lays off an employee, the company now has to give the employee 20 days’ notice or pay in lieu thereof. Slate offers up to two months COBRA health coverage for anyone who loses their job.
• More robust anti-harassment language.
• Four months in which staffers working extra hours can use their comp time, two more than under the previous contract.
• Inclusion of Slate Plus editors in the recognition agreement and unit.
“Slate’s second collective bargaining agreement improves terms and conditions for all unit members,”Lowell Peterson is the WGA East executive director. “Guild members at Slate made their priorities clear to management and the union was able to win real gains. Solidarity delivers results at the bargaining table.”
The guild represents almost 7,000 writers in film and television news (broadcast, digital and podcasts). The WGAE also represents Slate newsrooms at ABC News, ABC News and WBBM–AM, WNX-AM, CBS News, CBSN. The Committee to Protect Journalists is represented by the Fox 5 WNYW TV, CBS News, CBSN. The Future plc, Gizmodo Media Groups, Future plcs, Future plcs, Hearst Magazines. The Intercept, Jewish Currents.