Even those who casually follow Insider, a successful digital media publication, likely noticed a disruption this month as employees went on strike. During this time, old stories were republished as new, and the company’s founder began writing articles himself to fill the void. The drama extended onto the streets of Brooklyn, where the editor in chief was caught on video tearing down fliers featuring his face. The strike came to an end on Wednesday when the Insider union and management reached an agreement, marking the longest strike at a digital media company so far.
The new deal includes an increase in the salary minimum for Insider staff, a pledge to not lay off any more employees for the remainder of the year, and a 3.5 percent raise for most staff once the contract is ratified. This is seen as a significant victory for the staff, who launched the strike due to layoffs and increased healthcare costs.
Insider, like many other media companies, has faced challenges due to the declining ad market and economic conditions affecting the industry. Despite these challenges, the company aims to provide competitive pay and benefits within the industry.
This labor victory at Insider is part of a larger trend of digital media employees organizing and unionizing. The wave of organizing began in 2015 with the unionization of Gawker staffers. The pandemic era has further fueled labor activism within the journalism industry, mirroring the increase in union activity across the country.
Insider’s employees have long expressed concerns about the high-pressure environment and shifting editorial goals in the newsroom. The strike highlighted these concerns, as management relied on nonunion editors and offices in London and Singapore to continue operations. Old content was republished with updated dates, and the company’s founders wrote articles that didn’t align with the serious journalism that Insider is known for.
The strike also exposed dysfunction within the company, as unfinished drafts and early versions of articles were published without proper review. This further fueled employees’ frustration and reinforced their concerns about the company’s practices.
Overall, the strike at Insider represents a powerful leverage for workers in the face of challenging labor conditions. Strikes are seen as a last resort for unions to push for better negotiations, but they also come with financial sacrifices for the striking employees.
In the end, the Insider strikers achieved some victories, including an apology from the White House for crossing a metaphorical digital picket line. This strike, along with other labor movements in the media industry, highlights the growing power of workers in demanding fair pay and better working conditions.
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