LA Times Union Plans Strike Authorization Vote as Contract Talks Stall
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Pacific Coast Media Workers Guild, representing approximately 800 employees at the Los Angeles Times, announced on Friday, May 23, 2025, its intention to hold a strike authorization vote.
The vote is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing and increasingly contentious contract negotiations between the union and the newspaper’s management.
The decision to pursue a strike authorization vote comes after months of bargaining that union leadership characterizes as having stalled.
Key points of contention in the protracted negotiations include demands for a substantial wage increase, concerns over the rising cost of employee healthcare, and opposition to proposed staffing cuts.
Core Issues Driving the Potential Labor Action
At the heart of the dispute is the union’s demand for a 15% wage increase spread over a three-year contract term.
Union officials argue that this increase is necessary to keep pace with the rising cost of living in the Southern California region, particularly in Los Angeles, and to compensate employees fairly for their work.
They contend that current wage scales have not kept up with economic realities, impacting the financial stability of many union members.
Another major point of friction involves healthcare costs.
The Pacific Coast Media Workers Guild states that employees are facing increasingly burdensome healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
The union is seeking concessions from management to alleviate these costs and ensure that healthcare remains affordable and accessible for its members and their families.
The rising cost of health coverage has become a common flashpoint in labor negotiations across various industries, and the situation at the Los Angeles Times appears to be no exception.
Perhaps the most sensitive issue fueling the potential strike is the proposed layoffs.
Management has reportedly proposed eliminating approximately 50 editorial staff positions.
The union vehemently opposes these cuts, arguing that they would not only negatively impact the lives of the affected employees but also diminish the newspaper’s capacity to produce quality journalism.
Union leaders assert that reducing the editorial workforce would severely hamper the Los Angeles Times’ ability to effectively cover Southern California, a region known for its vast size and complex issues.
They argue that fewer journalists would mean less local coverage, impacting the community the newspaper serves.
Union Leadership Voices Frustration
Leadership of the Pacific Coast Media Workers Guild has been vocal about their frustrations with the pace and substance of the negotiations.
They released a statement on May 23, 2025, indicating that talks have made little progress on these critical issues, leading to the decision to pursue a strike authorization vote.
The union stated that the lack of progress and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding job security and compensation have significantly impacted morale within the newsroom and across the represented workforce.
The statement underscored the union’s position that a well-staffed and fairly compensated newsroom is essential for the Los Angeles Times to fulfill its journalistic mission and maintain its role as a vital source of information for Southern California.
They argue that the proposed cuts and the failure to address wage and healthcare concerns undermine the newspaper’s core function.
Management’s Stance
As of the announcement date on May 23, 2025, the Los Angeles Times management had not yet issued a formal statement regarding the Pacific Coast Media Workers Guild’s decision to schedule a strike authorization vote for May 29.
The lack of immediate comment from management leaves observers and employees awaiting an official response to the union’s significant action.
What a Strike Authorization Vote Means
A strike authorization vote does not automatically mean that a strike will occur.
Instead, it grants the union’s leadership the authority to call a strike if negotiations fail to reach a satisfactory agreement.
It is a strategic tool used by unions to demonstrate the collective will of their members and to increase pressure on management during bargaining.
If the vote on May 29 passes, the union will have the option to call a strike at any time, although they are likely to use the authorization as leverage to push for concessions at the bargaining table.
The outcome of the vote will be closely watched by employees, management, and the wider community that relies on the Los Angeles Times for news and information.
The potential for a work stoppage highlights the significant challenges facing legacy media organizations as they navigate economic pressures, changing consumption habits, and the demands of their workforce.
The upcoming vote on May 29 represents a critical moment for the Pacific Coast Media Workers Guild and the future labor relations at the Los Angeles Times.
