The Onion Union is fighting for a fair contract!
Writers Guild of America East members have authorized an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike at Onion, Inc. if their parent company, G/O Media, refuses to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement before their current contract expires on January 31, 2024. The Onion Union approved a ULP strike with 97% of members voting yes. The WGAE’s Online Media Council members unanimously approved the ULP strike.
Guild members have shown that they are not afraid to strike for what they deserve. If a ULP strike is called, we march forward knowing the entire Guild membership and the broader labor community stands in solidarity with The Onion Union in their fight to win a fair contract from G/O Media.
If a ULP strike is called by the union on January 31, pickets and rallies in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City would begin on Thursday, February 1.
Members and allies can sign up for our Onion Union Rapid Response list to be notified about picket times and locations as soon as a strike is called.
Learn what WGAE members at Onion, Inc. are fighting for and why they’re preparing to strike below. If a strike is called, this page will also be updated with RSVP links to upcoming pickets and rallies, a ULP strike FAQ, and a social media toolkit for supporters.
Learn about the contract fight so far
Who is The Onion Union?
The Onion Union is the WGAE-represented bargaining unit for the creative staff at The Onion, The A.V. Club, Deadspin, and The Takeout. WGAE members in The Onion Union are based in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
The unit is fighting for pay parity with their colleagues in the WGAE-represented GMG Union, which is also owned by G/O Media. In addition, The Onion Union is seeking a contract that includes a fair successorship agreement to protect their contract in the event of a sale, improved severance to address frequent company layoffs, and basic protections around Artificial Intelligence.
What are WGAE members in The Onion Union fighting for?
Fair Wages and Benefits
- G/O Media owns both Onion, Inc. and Gizmodo Media Group (GMG), but the salary minimum for Onion employees is $13k lower than that of GMG for the same work in the same offices.
- Salaries, severance, and benefits across Onion, Inc. websites (The Onion, The A.V. Club, The Takeout, and Deadspin) are woefully behind industry standards and have not kept up with inflation.
- G/O Media wants to take away our hard fought vacation policy.
Dignity & Respect
- Conditions at G/O Media are so hostile to editorial workers that 97% of The Onion Union have signed a strike pledge and are prepared to strike in the absence of a fair contract.
- G/O Media has committed multiple unfair labor practices and is bargaining in bad faith.
- If the Onion Union is forced to strike, it will be the second labor strike under G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller’s management in only 2 years.
- Jim Spanfeller is a notorious pariah in the digital media world. In 2023 alone, G/O Media saw the departures of 5 Editors in Chief and the Editorial Director.
Human-Made, Quality Content
- G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller wants no restrictions on the use of AI and wants the right to replace writers with AI-generated content.
- Spanfeller’s botched attempts at publishing AI-generated content on our websites have been an embarrassment to our staff and an insult to our loyal readers.
Why is The Onion Union preparing for an Unfair Labor Practice/ULP strike?
Turmoil and mismanagement have been the hallmarks of G/O Media since the company was founded in 2019 by private equity firm Great Hill Partners. The company has a long history of bad labor practices that has prompted the union to file numerous grievances and ULPs, as well as a strike by the GMG Union in 2022.
Management has repeatedly stripped brands of their long-standing identities to the dismay of their dedicated readers. There has been constant turnover among its leadership and mass editorial resignations at numerous verticals in protest of the dictates made by G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller. Further, G/O Media shuttered two beloved politics-focused brands, Jezebel in 2023 and Splinter in 2019, saying the sites did not align with the company’s ever-changing business model.
This consistent mismanagement has reared its head again throughout Onion, Inc. contract negotiations — which is why the Guild has filed ULP charges against G/O Media for violating the National Labor Relations Act by “bargaining in bad faith when the Employer engaged in threatening and intimidating behavior, made threats to cancel agreed upon release time for bargaining committee members, unilaterally canceled previously agreed upon in-person negotiations with the Union, and failed to proffer management representatives with the authority to reach an agreement.”
What happens if a strike is called?
If a ULP strike is called by the union on January 31, pickets and rallies in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City would begin on Thursday, February 1.
We strongly encourage members and allies to sign up for our Onion Union Rapid Response list to be notified of picket times and locations. The Onion Union ULP Strike landing page will be updated in the event of a strike to include RSVP links to upcoming pickets and rallies, a ULP strike FAQ, and a social media toolkit to communicate your support.
How would a ULP strike at The Onion Union impact other WGAE members?
If The Onion Union goes on a ULP strike, Guild members must refuse to do struck work at Onion, Inc. Any Guild member who crosses the picket line could face disciplinary action from the Guild.
In addition, non-Guild members who cross the picket line may be deemed ineligible for future Guild membership.
Further, in the event of a ULP strike, we would call on all members to not cross the “click-it line” (digital picket line) by refusing to visit The Onion, The A.V. Club, Deadspin and The Takeout, or their accompanying social media accounts.
We will provide more information and details for members if there is a strike.
Show your support for members of The Onion Union
If a ULP strike is called by the union on January 31, pickets and rallies in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City would begin on Thursday, February 1.
We strongly encourage members and allies to sign up for our Rapid Response list below in order to be notified of picket times and locations as soon as a strike is announced. The Onion Union ULP Strike landing page will be updated in the event of a strike to include RSVP links to upcoming pickets and rallies, a ULP strike FAQ, and a social media toolkit to communicate your support.
Join the Onion Union Rapid Response list to be notified of picket times and locations if a ULP strike is called.