Agreement reached to end HarperCollins strike

Graphic by Sunny Wei ‘23.

By Olivia Wilson ’24

Books Section Editor 

After a grueling sixty-six-day strike that captured national headlines and involved almost 250 employees, the union at HarperCollins publishing has announced the ratification of a new contract and the conclusion of the strike. The demonstration began on Nov. 10, 2022, and officially ended on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, when employees returned to work after over two months of public and virtual demonstrations. 

The new contract comes at a troubling time for HarperCollins, as they announced they would be cutting five percent of their U.S. workforce by June 30, according to Publishers Weekly. The New York Times reported that the company, which saw a surge in profits during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now suffering losses and is down 14 percent in sales from last year. HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray pointed to unprecedented supply chain and inflation costs as a reason for the layoffs. 

Among other demands, the union has been negotiating for an increase in starting salary from $45,000 per year to $50,000 per year to compensate for the high living costs in New York City, where HarperCollins headquarters are located. There have also been demands for improved family benefits and a stronger initiative from the company in diversifying its workforce, according to a report from The New York Times. 

The released terms of the contract include improved compensation and benefits, guaranteed annual raises for anyone rated above ‘unsatisfactory’ for work and paid time to participate in company diversity and inclusion initiatives. In addition, the contract allows employees to continue working remotely until July 1, 2023. 

A statement from union President Olga Budastrova told Publisher’s Weekly that the union was incredibly pleased with the terms of the new contract, which will last through the end of 2025. In the statement, she told Publisher’s Weekly that she was “confident” that the contract would “lead to a long-lasting change in HarperCollins work culture and perhaps in publishing at large.”

HarperCollins union negotiates demands

HarperCollins has begun negotiations with union following months-long strike that began Nov. 10. Photo courtesy of Actualitté.

By Jude Barrera ’24

Staff Writer & Copy Editor 

On Nov. 10, 2022, the unionized employees of HarperCollins began striking to demand better wages and a new contract. One of the four major publishing companies in the United States and the only one to have a union, HarperCollins was not forthcoming in meeting the demands of its workers, according to the HarperCollins Union, with no word from the company for the first 55 days of the strike. Feb. 1 marked 60 business days since the strike began. Strikers took breaks when HarperCollins offices were also closed, such as weekends and federal holidays. On Jan. 26, the 56th day of the strike, HarperCollins agreed to mediations. These mediations began on Feb. 1. 

Despite not communicating directly with the union, HarperCollins made several press releases that addressed union concerns prior to the start of negotiations. On Dec. 15, 2022, HarperCollins released a statement addressing their employee compensation. In it, HarperCollins stated that while they pay “a base salary on the 35-hour work week,” employees who work more than that are eligible for overtime pay. Yet, in the initial press release announcing the strike, it was stated that “many employees cite pressure to work extra hours without additional compensation.” According to Publishers Weekly, a few days after agreeing to mediations with the union, HarperCollins announced layoffs of about 5 percent of its North American staff “by the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.” 

Though mediations have begun, workers have continued and will continue to strike until their demands have been met and a contract has been reached. Striking workers held a rally on Jan. 31 on 195 Broadway, the current location of the HarperCollins offices. Supporters of the union were encouraged to visit in person, and the union organized an Instagram Live for people who were not local to show their support. The union then held a second rally, with a slogan of “Take it to the Top,” on Feb. 2. This rally was held outside the offices of HarperCollins’ parent company NewsCorp. 

This was not the first rally that union members have held in front of NewsCorp offices, as another protest was held there in mid-January. The union is still asking for support throughout the process of mediation. Authors and agents have been asked to refrain from submitting new material to HarperCollins. Laura Harschberger, the union chair, revealed in an interview with Hellgate NYC that “more than 200 agents [signed] a letter indicating that they’re going to withhold submissions from HarperCollins until the strike is over.” Supporters of the strike who are not within the publishing industry are also encouraged to donate to the union’s strike fund. These donations contribute to employees’ ability to strike in a sustainable way, as “striking workers have been without a paycheck for months” according to Andrew Limbong of NPR. The strike fund replaces a striking worker’s regular wage, as employees on strike do not get paid.

Amid HarperCollins’ months-long strike, the unionized employees of HuffPost, a news website, also began negotiations on a new contract. On Jan. 30, a day before their contract expired, the HuffPost union released a statement pledging to strike if their demands were not met. The statement had a 98 percent signature rate from union members. The union bargained from the morning through the night, and at 1:43 a.m. on Feb. 1, almost two hours after their old contract expired, a new contract that met the union’s demands was made. In comparison, the contract for HarperCollins union members expired on Dec. 31, 2021, making it over 400 days since the union has had a valid contract.