Condé Nast Settles $400,000 Dispute After Journalists Confronted Layoffs

In November 2025, Jasper Lo (The New Yorker), Alma Avalle (Bon Appétit), Ben Dewey (Condé Nast Entertainment) and Jake Lahut (Wired) confronted chief people officer Stan Duncan at Condé Nast’s One World Trade Center office about layoffs and the folding of Teen Vogue into Vogue. A video of the encounter spread online. Within days the four were terminated and five other staff were suspended.

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Condé Nast announced workforce reductions across titles, including Wired, and merged Teen Vogue into Vogue in fall 2025. The NewsGuild of New York, backed by the Communications Workers of America, staged a “march on the boss” in November 2025 and filed grievances and Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

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In May 2026 Condé Nast settled for over $400,000 with three of the four terminated journalists. Alma Avalle, Ben Dewey and Jasper Lo were reinstated, allowed to resign, received letters of recommendation and had disciplinary records cleared, along with back-pay of roughly two years. The five suspended staff were paid for each day of suspension. Jake Lahut declined a four-month back-pay offer and maintains his NLRB complaint.

New York Times

The NewsGuild of New York said Condé Nast’s actions breached contractual Just Cause protections and federal labor law on protected concerted activity. Union president Susan DeCarava noted the fight extends beyond a single contract to broader workplace rights. Condé Nast offered no comment.

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The union called the terminations retaliation for protected activity and labeled the treatment inhumane. Lahut’s refusal of the settlement highlights dissent over compensation adequacy.

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Condé Nast’s spokesperson declined comment, leaving the company’s view undocumented. The settlement for reinstated journalists is described only as “nearly two years of back-pay,” without exact figures. The NLRB complaint for Lahut remains pending.

New York Times

• “We fought because we had to, because so much of an equitable future as workers and journalists depends on our combined efforts to resist inhumane treatment,” — Jasper Lo, former senior fact checker, The New Yorker

New York Times

• “I’m so stoked for the rest of the Fired Four getting this deal. Conde is giving them nearly two years of backpay. They offered me 4 months. In the absence of a serious offer, I’m looking forward to my day in court.” — Jake Lahut, former political writer, Wired

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• “Our fight as a union is about more than a single contract; it is about ensuring workers’ rights to a just workplace.” — Susan DeCarava, president, NewsGuild of New York

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• “ The NewsGuild of New York said Conde Nast’s actions violated their contractual Just Cause protections and federal labor law to engage in protected concerted activity as workers, according to a release from NewsGuild of New York.” — NewsGuild of New York release

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The NLRB complaint for Lahut remains active. The NewsGuild of New York says it will continue monitoring Condé Nast’s compliance with labor-law obligations, and the union may pursue further legal action if the dispute is not resolved.

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