As media freelancers, we have a crucial role to play when our colleagues go on strike. We can help ensure the strike’s success by committing not to work for the publication while a strike is ongoing — e.g. honoring the picket line.
Wait, what’s a picket line exactly? Traditionally, this is where striking workers gather not only to demonstrate, but to monitor who enters the workplace. The goal of a strike is to bring a company’s operations to a halt, and strikers want to ensure no one crosses the picket line and goes to work. A picket line may be less physical in the digital age, but the goal is still the same: to bring the company’s operations to a standstill. Any work done for a company during a strike undermines this effort, and therefore constitutes crossing the picket line.
In the past, FSP has honored picket lines established by striking members of The New Yorker Union, GMG Union, Wirecutter Union, and others. Learn more here.
As of June 30, 2022,WIRED Union is prepared to strike, and FSP is committed to honoring their picket line.
After more than a year of bargaining with Condé Nast, unionized workers at WIRED still do not have a fair contract — and they’re on the verge of a Prime Day walkout (July 12–13) to get what they deserve.
If WIRED workers strike, what will they ask of freelancers on July 12 and 13?
- Do not click on or share WIRED links.
- Do not perform struck work for WIRED (meaning work that is usually done by members of the union, including writing, editing, photo and design work, copy editing, and fact checking).
- Do not pitch or produce new work for WIRED.
- Do not submit edits to forthcoming stories.
- Do ask that your work not be published during the strike.
- Do encourage your audience to support the striking workers.
How can I show solidarity with the workers at WIRED?
- Sign our pledge to respect the picket line if WIRED workers go on strike.
- Share the WIRED Union supporter pledge with your networks.
- Sign up for updates on the strike and picket line.
We, the undersigned freelancers, commit to honor the picket line if workers at WIRED go on strike.
Alexis Gunderson ☆
Taylor Moore
Tammy Kim ☆
Kerry Cardoza ☆
Laura Yan ☆
Lux Alptraum ☆
Eric Thurm ☆
Olivia Schwob ☆
Fredrick R. OKeefe
Olivia Aylmer ☆
Tiana Reid ☆
Jess Pinkham ☆
Bryce Covert ☆
Joe Purtell
Rob Kaiser-Schatzlein ☆
C.M. Crockford ☆
Clio Chang ☆
Jonathan Michels ☆
Susie Armitage ☆
Roshan Abraham ☆
Errol Schweizer ☆
Jillian Steinhauer ☆
Sam Huber ☆
Elaine Meyer ☆
Samuel DiBella ☆
Amos Barshad ☆
Rachel Pointer
☆ denotes FSP member