Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NewsGuild of New York Journalists at Sports Illustrated Win New Contract, Guaranteed Pay Increases

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Journalists at Sports Illustrated (SI)—who are members of The NewsGuild of New York, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 31003—won a new three-year contract that raises salaries, saves on health care costs, protects remote work as well as workers regarding artificial intelligence (AI).

The SI Union represents 64 journalists at the sports media organization. The deal wraps up nearly a year and a half of bargaining with publisher Minute Media. Highlights of the new contract include a new $70,000 salary floor; an average raise of 5.22% upon ratification, with 3% guaranteed increases over the next two years; preservation of just-cause protections; AI guardrails and more.

“This contract upholds the principles and protections we fought so hard for four years ago,” said Dan Falkenheim, a fact checker and the SI Union’s unit chair. “After our members have experienced more than their fair share of instability because of ownership changes beyond our control, we are thrilled to have a contract that values our work and provides a strong foundation for Sports Illustrated’s future at Minute Media.”