Union Protest at "The New Yorker at 100" Screening Over Condé Nast Firings

On November 6, 2023, dozens of unionized staffers from The New Yorker protested outside the premiere screening of the Netflix documentary “The New Yorker at 100” at the Paris Theater in New York City. The protest was a direct response to recent firings by the magazine's parent company, Condé Nast, which the union characterized as retaliatory actions against employees who questioned layoffs within the organization.

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The New Yorker Union distributed flyers and stickers to attendees, urging them to wear the materials into the screening. The leaflets criticized Condé Nast for what they described as “union-busting like it’s 1925,” a reference to the magazine's centennial celebration depicted in the documentary. The union's statement emphasized their commitment to fighting against these firings, asserting that “the legacy and future of the magazine depends on it.”

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The protest followed the dismissal of four employees, including Jasper Lo, a senior fact checker at The New Yorker, and Jake Lahut, a senior politics reporter for WIRED. Condé Nast cited “extreme misconduct” as the reason for the firings, which occurred after a confrontation between editorial staff and the company's head of HR. The company also filed a federal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against the NewsGuild of New York, the union's parent organization, alleging violations of their contract.

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Condé Nast defended its actions, stating, “Extreme misconduct is unacceptable in any professional setting. This includes aggressive, disruptive, and threatening behavior of any kind.” However, the union contested this characterization, claiming that the video evidence of the confrontation did not support the notion of “extreme misconduct” or threatening behavior.

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The New Yorker Union asserted that Condé Nast was violating the contract’s just cause protections and the federally protected rights of union members to engage in collective action. Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York, remarked that the video of the incident “speaks for itself,” implying that it does not substantiate the company's claims of misconduct.

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Critics of Condé Nast's actions argue that the firings represent a broader trend of union suppression within the media industry. The union's protest highlights the tension between management and staff, particularly regarding the rights of employees to advocate for their colleagues and question company decisions.

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• “We won’t be intimidated by union busting, and we won’t stop fighting until our colleagues are reinstated,” — The New Yorker Union

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• “As journalists, it is our members’ job to hold power to account and ask difficult questions,” — The New Yorker Union

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• “Extreme misconduct is unacceptable in any professional setting.” — Condé Nast

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The protest at the documentary screening underscores the ongoing conflict between Condé Nast and its unionized staff, raising questions about labor rights and corporate accountability in the media landscape.

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