HarperCollins Workers Strike For Increased Wages, Benefits and Diversity

HarperCollins members went on Wednesday for a day’s strike, with about 100 employees and additional supporters in front of the company’s headquarters in Manhattan, with higher wages, better family vacation benefits, and Company.

Publishing has long offered small wages to beginner and mid-career employees. This makes it difficult to live in New York City, the industry hub, without a second job or financial support from your spouse or family.

Many workers say that low wages also make it difficult for potential employees who do not come from wealth to consider a publishing career, which primarily hinders efforts to diversify the white industry.

“I love my work and I love the authors. Working on these books is an incredible privilege. If I can afford it, I’ll do it for the rest of my life,” said Associate Stephanie Gerdan. I am. The editor of the children’s club who participated in the strike.

But she said she was worried that her annual salary would be $ 56,000 and she wouldn’t be able to stay.

“Publishing is a joke that you need a rich partner to succeed in the industry,” she said. “It must be a thing of the past.”

A HarperCollins spokeswoman declined to comment on the contract negotiations that have been ongoing since December 2021.

In a statement, the union stated that members, mostly women, earn an average of $ 55,000 a year and a starting salary of $ 45,000. Many employees are feeling the pressure to work long hours without additional compensation, he added.

The union, which is part of the UAW, represents more than 250 employees working in the editorial, promotional, sales, design, marketing and legal departments. HarperCollins employees have been in the union for over 80 years, and the union calls it “one of the earliest” white-collar “workers’ unions in the country.” Unions are outliers in the industry. Most large corporate publishers have no union members.

Other major publishers are off to a similar start Salary To the people of HarperCollins — 2020, McMillan Announced that it will raise its entry-level salary to $ 42,000. Hachette Increased start-up payments for expensive locations to $ 45,000.

In addition to high wages, HarperCollins workers are demanding better family leave allowances, greater diversity and greater commitment to more union protection.

“HarperCollins reports record breaking ProfitOlga Brudastova, President of the UAW Local 2110, said: “Compensation is not keeping up with inflation and does not reflect the contribution of members to the company.”