July 5, 2022, 1:30pm
Unionized workers at HarperCollins have voted by an overwhelming majority to authorize a one-day strike against their employer as contract disputes continue.
More 99 percent of the bargaining unit—which belongs to Local 2110 of the UAW and is comprised of more than 250 employees at HarperCollins across multiple departments—voted to authorize the strike. Its statement follows months of contract negotiations that began in December 2021 and which, union members say, has brought unsatisfying results in regards to family leave, pay, qualifications for union membership, and other issues.
Laura Harshberger, a senior production editor in Children’s Books and the union chairperson, also said that the company has not taken meaningful steps to live up to its promises on diversity and inclusion, according to a statement:
The union also cites the lack of racial and ethnic diversity at the company, attributing this to historically low wages and the lack of real commitment to diversifying.
“All of our proposals are to make HarperCollins a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace,” Harshberger stated. “The company says publicly it supports diversifying the industry but management is refusing to meaningfully address the low pay rates or codify policy changes in our union contract. Our members are tired of empty gestures. They want meaningful change.”
The union said in a tweet that it would release more information in the coming days on how to support its efforts.
Aside from sharing the news, more info TK (as the publishing kids say) on how you can support our union before and during the strike!
— HarperCollins Union (@hcpunion) July 5, 2022
[h/t Publishers Weekly]