The Harper Collins Union is on day 18 of their strike (counting work days), which began on November 10, and UAW Local 2110 president Olga Brudastova affirms to PL that the union is prepared to continue as long as it takes to get to a contract. We estimate that the striking workers are losing something on the order of $250,000 a week in gross wages (or $50,000 for each strike day). Here, the workers’ alignment with the auto workers union shows its strength. The UAW strike fund pays each worker $400 per week, starting from the first day of the […]
Unions
Agents Sign Letter of Support for HCP Union
A group of 172 agents sent HarperCollins a letter supporting the HCP Union, which has been striking since November 10 for an increase to the base salary and a commitment to diverse hiring. The signatories state that they will not submit new projects to the publisher until the strike ends. They write: “We and our clients have benefited greatly from the passion and expertise of HarperCollins’ staff, and we stand with them in their demands for a living wage, a more equitable and diverse workplace, and stronger union protections. Until an agreement is reached and the strike ends, we will […]
Harper Union Begins Strike
Workers in the Harper Collins Union began an open-ended strike today, as they have not yet reached an agreement with management on a contract, and are picketing in front of the company’s NYC office. The NYT notes that union seeks an increase in the minimum starting salary from $45,000 to $50,000. As previously indicated, the union says it is also seeking “a greater commitment to diversifying staff.” Astoria Bookshop announced that it would donate the proceeds from any Harper books sold at the store on Nov. 10 and 11 to the strike fund, to help make up for striking workers’ […]
Harper Union Moves Strike Date; Management Comments
The Harper Collins Union announced that, if it cannot reach an agreement on a contract with management, it would begin striking on Nov. 10 instead of Nov. 7, “because we want to make sure all our employees are able to participate fully in the crucial midterm elections on Tuesday [Nov. 8].” In a memo to staff on Friday, the company commented on the negotiations for the first time. Management says that it has agreed to a number of the union’s proposals, and hopes to reach an agreement. They noted that entry level salaries have gone up 25 percent since the last time […]
Harper Collins Union Votes for Second Strike
Three months after their one-day strike on July 20, the Harper Collins Union has voted to authorize another strike, this time open-ended. If they can’t reach an agreement on a contract, union members (who number more than 250) will strike again beginning on November 7. “We have been bargaining for 11 months toward an agreement that would make HarperCollins a more accessible, equitable, and just workplace,” senior production editor and union chairperson Laura Harshberger said. “Once again, the members voted to authorize a strike because the company refuses to agree to a fair contract for the employees that make it […]
Harper Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge
The Harper Collins Union shared on social media that it has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, after the company did not respond to a request for information during bargaining. “We strongly believe the Board has to agree with us that the company’s refusal not only violates the labor law, but also gets in the way of us working toward an agreement,” the union said.