New York Times Tech Guild reaches tentative deal with company on three-year contract

(Reuters) – The NewsGuild of New York said on Wednesday it had reached a tentative deal on a three-year contract with the New York Times (NYSE:), after more than 600 tech workers at NYT went on a week-long strike in November.

The strike was initiated a day before the U.S. presidential election by workers including software engineers, designers and product managers amid stalled contract negotiations over pay and job security.

The tentative agreement is a first for the NYT Tech Guild, which is a bargaining unit that covers tech workers at NYT.

The Tech Guild is part of the NewsGuild of New York, which represents nearly 6,000 media workers.

“We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the Tech Guild,” a NYT spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

The new contract includes “enhanced job security with ‘just cause’ protections” and wage increases of up to 8.25% that prioritize the largest wage increases for the lowest paid members, among other benefits.

“We not only won a first contract that set new standards for workers within the New York Times, but we’ve also established a strong foundation for what is possible for tech workers in the future when they organize and bargain collectively,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York.

The Tech Guild members will vote to ratify the contract on Dec. 19.