Decades ago the American corporate landscape was vastly different than it is today. At the turn of the 1900s anti-competition laws strangled the competition of growing monopolistic industries that treated their employees abysmally. Collective bargaining was the common man’s only recourse to anything approaching fair pay, treatment, or even basic safety features. Back then there was a point to it and today in some instances it can be argue there is a necessity as well.

Yet one shouldn’t make synonymous the term collective bargaining and unionization. Organizations have one goal if not expressly put to a task and kept on it and that goal is the perpetuation of that organization. This is made all the more worse if that organization converges and represents interests beyond either its own perpetuation which would necessitate in part a thriving industry or said industry in which it occupies.

This is where we find the WGAE union that represents its members such as Deadspin, Gizmodo, and Kotaku, and its agenda against G/O media. After the October walkout and subsequent harassment of both the new editor and freelance talent into resignation at Deadspin, G/O media has had enough.

In a letter written to WGAE, G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller has announced they are terminating further negotiations with the Union in regards to the editorial oversight previsions and several demands the union has made.

News: G/O Media is moving Deadspin to Chicago and suspending negotiations with unionized employees. Here’s the letter from Jim Spanfeller. pic.twitter.com/x3ymCOCbmI

— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) January 10, 2020

“In terms of modification to the Gizmodo collective bargaining agreement’s editorial independence provisions, we believe we have reached a point where our discussions are no longer productive and as such, we will not engage in further discussions on this topic.”

What is most disturbing about the demands revealed in this letter is the pure power grab intentions behind them. It is one thing to negotiate for fair pay, but entirely a different beast to demand employee veto power over hiring. Allowing an effective policing of those who the group deems guilty of wrongthink while keeping positions open for their friends.

Contained within the letter are also requests from G/O media to put a halt to the harassment campaign employees have been engaging in against Freelancers and G/O Media employees. Deadspin has also shifted management and will now be managed by The Onion Company. It’s offices will be moved to Chicago, but all those that walked out have been offered their jobs back under the new managerial guidelines.

Depending on how the union reacts will determine if G/O media goes full union busting. Keep in mind G/O media move of the Deadspin offices to Illinois allows them to take advantage of Right to Work laws passed in the state earlier 2019. In short WGAE will no longer have legal power to compel G/O media to force their employees to subscribe to the union. They will also be free to hire and contract non union employees.

At this juncture it is safe to say WGAE Union better shape up and start demonstrating they have something they can offer to G/O media. Else wise membership will be seen more as a liability rather than a benefit for any employee.

Dear Mr. Peterson:

 

I am writing to address the current situation regarding the WGAE and Deadspin. It is our goal – and one we hope is mutual – to restart Deadspin publication as soon as possible and in a manner that provides both the editorial freedom necessary for such a platform and the business focus to ensure its long-term sustainability.

 

To this end, we have decided to move Deadspin platform, which will remain a dedicated sports platform, under The Onion corporate structure to ensure the best chance of its future success. In this regard, Deadspin will therefore e headquartered in our Chicago office. However, the offer to prior Deadspin employees to return to their former positions (working in our New York offices) remains open at this time. We are, of course, prepared to discuss the impact of this structural change with you, if you would like.

 

In terms of modification to the Gizmodo collective bargaining agreement’s editorial independence provisions, we believe we have reached a point where our discussions are no longer productive and as such, we will not engage in further discussions on this topic. We have and will continue to respect the editorial integrity of our journalists at each of our platforms. The contractual provisions, as they currently exist, more than do this, with language that far exceeds anything that exists elsewhere in the digital media industry. The further revisions you seek are designed not to protect the integrity of reporting, but to place virtually full operational control of the brands in the hands of the bargaining unit. For example, your request to give the staff veto power over who might be hired as their boss goes far outside the norms of the media industry. Your unreasonable and unprecedented demands are not in the best interests of the company and would inhibit our ability to successfully operate our websites for the benefit of our readers, employees, and advertisers – it is absolutely critical for media companies to have the ability to ensure that sites are appealing not only to visitors but also business partners and prevent any irreversible damage to the company and to the ongoing employment of our staff.

 

As I am sure you know, over the past few months our efforts to operate and then restart Deadspin have been severely hampered by Union-represented employees’ concerted, divisive actions and their continued objections to our managerial decisions. While we strongly disagree with the positions taken and the views asserted by both the Union and its members on the issue, we have become even more concerned by the damaging impact these actions have had on those who want to work for Deadspin and our current editorial management who now refuse to partake in the recruitment process. We have seen at least one extremely public example of a freelance writer being harassed incessantly – to the point the individual refused to work for Deadspin further.

 

We believe these very public actions have had a lasting impact on existing and potential  talent who fear they will be subjected to the same inappropriate harassment.

 

As you know, immediately after the unnecessary mass resignations in October 2019, we filed a grievance with the WGAE asserting that the Union and its members’ conduct in walking off the job and engaging in its anti-Company campaign violated your commitment not to strike or otherwise interfere with the work of the company during the life of the collective bargaining agreement. In response, the Union specifically committed to abide by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. We are, therefore, asking you, in furtherance of this commitment, to ensure and confirm that neither the WGAE nor its members will engage in any further conduct directed towards job applicants, those who accept employment, freelancers or others providing services to Deadspin that prevent Deadspin from restarting is operations.

 

The bottom line is we will not jeopardize this business, which employees over 400 people across our news platforms and continues to attract top-notch talent. With our continued investment and support, we intend to grow all of the G/O Media platforms sustainably for the long-term, which will result in more jobs and opportunities for our employees and more great news for our readers.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Spanfeller

 

Chief Executive Officer, G/O Media