Condé Nast and Union Reach Agreement, Preventing Disruption at Met Gala

After extensive negotiations concerning their initial contract and proposed staff reductions, the union representing employees at Vanity Fair, Vogue, and GQ struck a deal with Condé Nast just hours before the Met Gala, where union members had threatened to stage a protest.

“In representation of the management bargaining committee and leaders across our organization, we are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement on a contract with the union… We are content and journalism,” stated Stan Duncan, Condé Nast’s chief people officer, in an email to staff around 3:30 am on May 6, as seen by BoF.

The newly negotiated contract entails $3.6 million in wage increases and provides eight weeks of severance for employees facing layoffs, as per a statement from the NewsGuild of New York, the union’s organizing body. Additionally, the union announced on Instagram the establishment of a $61,500 starting salary floor. Members are set to vote on ratifying the contract later this week.

In the lead-up to the event — sponsored by Condé Nast, overseen by the company’s chief content officer Anna Wintour, historically staffed by Vogue employees, and pivotal for content production across Condé-owned publications — union members intensified their efforts, presenting a work stoppage pledge on Apr. 29.

On May 5, the Union shared a roster of employees prepared to “take whatever steps necessary for a fair contract,” declaring “meet us at the table or we will meet you at The Met,” via Instagram.

“We were committed to doing whatever was necessary to secure our contract,” remarked Mark Alan Burger, Vanity Fair social media manager and a member of the union bargaining team. “The actions we took this week pushed the company to negotiate earnestly.”