The Athletic Staff Pushes for Union Recognition Within New York Times

Approximately 200 U.S.-based employees at The Athletic have requested to join the Times Guild, citing shared work and integration since the 2022 acquisition.

The Athletic's editorial staff has formally organized with The NewsGuild of New York and sent a letter to New York Times leadership requesting voluntary recognition as part of the Times Guild.
The New York Times acquired The Athletic in 2022, integrating its sports coverage into the broader newsroom and closing its own sports desk in 2023, a move that drew criticism and a grievance from the Times Guild.
The organizing committee argues that The Athletic's staff performs the same work as Times Guild members and should receive the same protections and benefits under the union contract.
If management declines to recognize the union, The Athletic staffers plan to pursue legal pathways, including potential action with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Athletic's unionization effort would add approximately 200 members to the Times Guild, which currently represents about 1,500 New York Times employees.