Condé Union Settles Contract, Averting Work Stoppage Ahead of Met Gala

NEW YORK –  NewsGuild of New York-represented staff at Condé Nast brands such as Vanity Fair, GQ, Vogue, Glamour, Bon Appétit and more have reached a tentative contract agreement with the company, averting what could have been a work stoppage timed to begin today, the day of the Met Gala.

Marathon bargaining with management wrapped up at 3 a.m. 

“We made a commitment to do whatever it takes to get our contract,” said Mark Alan Burger, Vanity Fair social media manager and a member of the Condé Union bargaining team. “Our pledge to take any action necessary to get our contract, including walking off the job ahead of the Met Gala, and all the actions we took this week, pushed the company to really negotiate. We made every effort this week to meet with them and get this contract completed and we’re thrilled to say we did it.”

This is the first contract for Condé Union – which represents workers at brands such as Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Epicurious, Glamour, GQ, Self, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Them, and Condé Nast Entertainment. The union was certified in September 2022. 

The union will vote to ratify the contract in the coming week. 

Here are just some of the highlights of the contract:

• $3.6 million in total wage increases 
• 14 weeks of parental of fully paid parental leave (an increase of two weeks)
• “Just cause” protections, which establishes standards that management must adhere to when disciplining or terminating a member
• End to two-tier permanence employment 
• Conversion of subcontracted employees to permanent staff 
• Guaranteed comp time after 40 hours of work 
• Expanded paid bereavement policy to cover biological and chosen family
• Hybrid work protections

 The Guild also successfully negotiated the terms of the layoffs.

• Eight weeks of severance with all applicable wage increases
• Continued employment through ratification
• Three months of COBRA coverage or, in lieu of COBRA, a one time lump sum payment equal to the three months of COBRA coverage, less applicable taxes and withholdings. 
• For employees who are not eligible for COBRA, a one time lump sum payment of $2,000, less taxes and withholdings.
• Accrued and unused vacation paid out.
• Additional one time lump sum payment of $1,000, less taxes and withholdings.
• An additional lump sum payment to be allocated equally amongst the list, based on a .25% trade from management’s proposed General Wage Increase for 2024.
• A layoff moratorium through July 31, 2024.

 “What this contract win clearly illustrates is that when we as union workers show our steadfast commitment to standing with one another and refusing to back down, we win,” said Anthony Napoli, NY Guild’s senior representative, chief negotiator and secretary/treasurer.