NYGuild-Represented Forbes Journalists Win First Contract

Unionized editorial staff at Forbes have ratified their first contract in a deal that sets strong editorial integrity protections, establishes a new $68.5K salary floor, includes gold-standard job security protections, and more. Forbes Union, which represents close to 90 reporters, photo and video editors, ratified the three-year contract on Sept. 1.

“We refused to accept any deal that didn’t honor the value we bring every day to Forbes,” said Andrea Murphy, unit chair and statistics editor for Forbes. “This contract is the direct result of our union’s perseverance and solidarity.”

This deal is the culmination of an over four-year fight for a fair contract by Forbes Union, which first organized with The NewsGuild of New York in 2021. Members staged multiple collective actions — including two work stoppages — to win this first contract.

“Forbes’ success is a direct result of our members’ hard work and their commitment to quality journalism,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of NY. “Our members fought long and hard for the value of their work. They refused to accept anything less and as a result they won a contract that will vastly improve the lives of their members and gives them a voice in maintaining newsroom standards.” Read highlights from the deal here and more in the Chief-Leader.