TIME UNION 100

REASONS WHY WE WANT A FAIR CONTRACT

We are the people whose labor keeps TIME and TIME for Kids running. We report, write, fact-check, copyedit, edit, design and produce our award-winning journalism. We produce powerful photo, video and graphic journalism. We shape strategy to help connect with readers around the world. We keep the newsroom and its operations running smoothly. And we’ve been doing this all for two years—without a fair contract.

Here are some of the 100 reasons we deserve a fair contract, in our own words.

…

"I'm proud to work at TIME with such a talented group of journalists. I'm fighting for the contract we deserve, one that protects all of us—not just some of us—with just cause, layoff protections and fair pay."

— Leslie Dickstein
"A large percentage of TIME's workers aren't covered by the current contract. That's unacceptable. We need a contract that protects all of us."

— Brian Bennett
"Fair and competitive pay wouldn't just improve quality of life; it would also give people who may not come from wealthy backgrounds or have family money a fair chance to succeed in journalism."

— Arpita Aneja
"TIME Union has been instrumental in pushing for stronger EDI initiatives at the company—many of which were implemented after we mobilized around these critical issues. I’m fighting for a fair contract so TIME can be an equitable workplace for employees from underrepresented communities."

– Kat Moon
"Through uncertainty and no real security, my colleagues have done incredible work for this company. It's time for management to show appreciation of that work."

— Josiah Bates
"TIME's strength is due to my colleagues' dedication to the work of journalism, whether they're reporting from the field, editing late into the night, chasing sources to confirm a fact or designing the perfect page to tell a story. Everyone plays an important hand in keeping the organization going; we all deserve strong salary minimums and fair compensation."

— Mahita Gajanan

“I love TIME magazine. And every person I’ve worked with at TIME believes in the work as fervently as I do, putting the magazine’s quality and success before their own needs and even comfort, daily giving their all to make our publication the best it can be. We deserve owners who don’t take advantage of our devotion to our work but instead recognize our efforts by granting us the respect and rights due valued partners.”

— Helen Eisenbach

"I'm proud of the work that my colleagues do every day. We all deserve fair pay and a workplace that recognizes the value of our work. I believe that a strong contract will help build a better TIME."

— Francesca Trianni
"I want a fair contract that provides all TIME employees with the security and confidence that allows them to excel at their jobs and makes TIME a good working environment for everyone."

— Justin Worland
"My colleagues go above and beyond to make TIME great, working long hours at low salaries. We all deserve pay that reflects the value of our work and our contributions."

— Samantha Cooney
"Working amid a pandemic for almost two years, this team showed that we could deliver some of TIME's most outstanding journalism under any circumstances. In light of that dedication and perseverance, our team deserves a fair contract protecting all its present and future employees."

— Paul Moakley
"We need a contract that establishes a set of standards that ensure equitable treatment, transparency and just compensation. These standards need to be commensurate with the high standards we set for ourselves as journalists."

— Emily Barone
"We union members are proud of our work at TIME. We deserve a fair contract, which benefits all workers and thus the organization as a whole."

— Stephanie Zacharek
"Every organization should be judged by how it treats those on the lower rungs and how their labor profits those at the top. A fair contract would raise them up and help us speak truth to power in our own place of business."

— Stephen Blue
"Two years is too long to go without a fair contract, but many workers at TIME have gone even longer than that without essential job protections and without fair pay. It's past time for a contract that protects all of us."

— Jennifer Schiavone
"A fair contract for TIME's employees translates to a fair workplace which in turn creates a happy work environment. Talking to fellow coworkers has made me realize one simple fact: we are underpaid and overworked."

— Pablo Munoz

“We can’t compete where we don’t compare. We need fair, livable wages. We need a fair contract.”

— Jenna Caldwell

"As a younger TIME staffer, I joined the company not knowing what my work was really worth. TIME Union helped me understand the true value of my work and what I deserve to be paid."

— Sanya Mansoor
"TIME has built a global reputation as an authoritative voice based on trust and impact. I want a fair contract so that TIME builds a reputation as a company that offers its workers competitive wages and critical protections."

— Joey Lautrup
"A fair contract that demonstrates a true appreciation of the essential work of our colleagues will ensure that TIME remains a trusted resource and continues to attract a talented staff in the future."

— Lissa August
'We need a contract that includes job protections and fairer pay. As we saw throughout the industry over the past 18 months, without a contract, job security can change in a hurry. And we need a voice in our working conditions so we can return to the office safely."

— Mark Hokoda
"I’m fighting for a fair contract because everyone deserves vital job protections and fair pay. TIME is only as strong as all the people working so hard to make it. Two years is too long."

— Annabel Gutterman
"It's unsettling to wonder all the time when we will have a contract that clearly and fairly spells out the terms of our employment. Not having that has meant a constant sense of uncertainty that has persisted for far too long."

— Simon Shuster

“Conversations I had about fair wages with the NewsGuild a few years ago made me realize I wasn’t being paid the minimum contractual rate negotiated between the Guild and management for the position I was in at the time. The Guild helped me secure $2,383 in backpay for the error. We need a fair contract now because all my colleagues deserve to know they are being correctly compensated for their work — and to have a group that can safely go to bat for them in case they aren’t.”

— Abby Vesoulis

"I support a fair contract because a newsroom is a collective that’s only as healthy as its workers, and it’s well past time we give every worker the security to thrive and the opportunity to grow."

— Raisa Bruner
"Working at TIME is a dream. Having management and the union agree on our contract would foster a sense of security for our workforce and confirm our value. Having negotiations stretch on for two years creates a cognitive dissonance—how can we reconcile such a fraught negotiation with the fact that we’re all on Team TIME?"

— Julia Zorthian
"It's important to me that we get fair wage increases for our hard work and fair severance protections if there were layoffs in the future, and our contract would guarantee both."

— Rich Morgan
"My colleagues and I deserve to be valued and treated with respect as the life force of this magazine. A fair contract is the only way to ensure that we have a more diverse and equitable future at TIME. "

— Cady Lang
"I stand for a fair contract and equitable wages because I believe TIME can, and should, set the standard for the industry."

— Tara Law
"I've worked alongside fellow union members for years who have been overworked and undervalued. A fair contract gets them the compensation and support they DESERVE from TIME."

— Kim Bubello
"My colleagues and I have devoted years of our lives to this magazine. We deserve to be compensated fairly for our work."

— Alejandro de la Garza
"The lifeblood of this '99 year old start-up company' is its dedicated team. This longevity is a direct result of my colleagues' dedication and hard work. Even before these uncertain times, not many companies made it to 100 years old. But now that we will, it is important that TIME sets a new standard and pays a fair wage that is reflective of the quality work that we do."

— Erica Solano
"TIME would be nothing without the people who create it. Everyone at the company deserves to be paid fairly for their work. "

— Rebecca Katzman

“I've seen too many friends, particularly BIPOC colleagues, give up on journalism because they've been overworked, underpaid and undervalued. TIME does not currently have a Latino editor, but I believe through a fair contract TIME can become a leader in the industry by implementing strong EDI initiatives and fairly paying its employees.”

— Jasmine Aguilera

"We need a more diverse newsroom. TIME is only as strong as the people who make it are—I stand with my colleagues, many of whom are overworked and underpaid."

— Sangsuk Sylvia Kang
"From my 16 years at TIME, I know that the talent and dedication of the people behind the red border is why TIME continues to be impactful and respected. I support a fair contract so that we continue to be a beacon in upholding and valuing the importance of journalism."

— Skye Quinn
"All of my colleagues deserve to be fairly compensated for the amazing work they do day in and day out. We need a fair contract to ensure that happens."

— Megan McCluskey
"I’m with the Union because I don’t want low wages to force my highly talented colleagues out of the profession. In addition, it’s only fair that all workers’ salaries keep up with NYC’s cost of living raises."

— Rebecca Mordechai
"I support the TIME union because I think everyone at our company deserves fair wages and opportunities to succeed."

— Jennifer Prandato
"I'm fighting for a fair contract because my colleagues and I have worked our butts off through a year and a half of uncertainty amidst an unprecedented pandemic and deserve, at a minimum, cost of living raises and job security."

— Alana Abramson

“TIME's workers are the backbone of the organization. It's time we're treated like it.”

— Caroline Olney

"I’m fighting for fair pay so people from all backgrounds would not be discouraged from applying to TIME or staying at TIME."

— Arohi Agrawal
"TIME employees should never have to choose between a job they love and a livable wage. A fair contract would ensure no one is put in a position where they are faced with that choice."

— Candace Dipsey
"Our publication is only as strong as the people who make it. A fair contract will ensure employees from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can work at TIME."

— Dori Sotirovska
"My brilliant colleagues work tirelessly every day to produce impactful journalism that seeks to make the world a better place. It’s about time that TIME lived up to the values it espouses with a strong contract that ensures fair wages and protections for a more diverse and equitable workplace."

— Paulina Cachero
"We need a strong contract because people from all financial circumstances should be able to work at TIME. Fair wages are essential to creating an equitable workplace—and a relevant, dynamic publication."

— Abigail Abrams
"TIME's staffers have poured countless hours to uphold TIME’s journalistic excellence, and lead in long overdue EDI initiatives across the newsroom. We deserve a contract that ensures a more equitable and diverse future with essential job protections, mental health support and fair pay for all employees."

— Kara Milstein
"When I think of how important the contract is, I don't just think of myself. It's important to me to have a contract that protects all of us, not just some of us, and many of us aren't protected yet."

— Lon Tweeten
"I want TIME to be a safe, supportive and fulfilling workplace for everyone—and a workplace that pays enough to attract people from all backgrounds."

— Jamie Ducharme
"I stand in solidarity with my TIME colleagues to demand a fair and equitable workplace. We need a contract that reflects the values of our staff and allows us to produce the best journalism possible."

— Brian Braganza

“I'm constantly amazed by the talent, commitment, enthusiasm and work ethic I observe in my colleagues at TIME. Management needs to demonstrate that they see it, too, by meeting us halfway at the bargaining table and working quickly towards a fair contract for all of us.”

— Judy Berman

"Here at TIME, I work with such a phenomenal group of journalists but, at the company's discretion, nearly half of us aren't covered by the current contract. We are the foundation and lifeline of this newsroom, and deserve to be compensated accordingly. A fair contract is essential for us to sustainably perform our jobs. We have been far too patient while being simultaneously overworked and underpaid."

— Nadia Suleman
"I'm so proud to work at TIME with exceptional colleagues, who all deserve fair compensation, job protections and an equitable workplace. A fair contract is essential if TIME is to continue publishing strong, impactful journalism."

— Katie Reilly
"The reason to have a contract is that there are periodic raises and hiring. Raises should be transparent, not leaving people to wonder who got what and why."

— Brian McGrath
"TIME Union has been working hard to push for pay equity and the rights that me and my colleagues deserve. What is most important to me is that TIME is an equitable workplace and becomes a more diverse newsroom. We deserve a fair contract."

— Karena Phan
"Every TIME staffer deserves a fair contract that includes essential job protections, better pay and cost of living raises. "

— Melissa Chan
"A publication is only as strong as its staff, and TIME employees commit so much of their lives toward the creation of an internationally respected magazine. Every one of its employees deserves to be protected by a fair contract. "

— Andrew Chow

“The union has made TIME a better place to work, for me and for countless others. From just cause protections to fair wages, it's essential to a more equitable and accessible place for people from all backgrounds and experiences. It's long past time for a fair contract.”

— Merrill Fabry

"All of us want to continue TIME's journalistic legacy - and stay relevant. The only way to do so is to attract and retain employees from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, especially our younger colleagues who have long been overworked and underpaid. This means a fair contract committed to competitive wages, an equitable workplace and transparency."

– Vera Bergengruen
"For me, what matters in a fair contract is setting a minimum salary that includes cost of living raises that accommodate for living in New York City."

— Bianca Ortiz
"As a brand that has global recognition, we here at TIME should lead by example of how all companies should treat their employees. Agreeing to a fair contract not only shows that management cares about its employees, but also shows the world that TIME is supportive of fair wages and working conditions."

— Ellen Nam
"Just as every dollar is made of dimes, an institution like TIME is made valuable thanks to each employee and their stellar contributions. TIME's team of hard-working and dedicated colleagues, the company’s most important asset, deserves a fair contract."

— Patrick Lucas Austin
"A fair contract should be a no-brainer if a company cares about its workers at all. If TIME means what it's said about changing over the past few years, then this is a necessary step in building that trust with those giving it their time and energy."

— Javon Stephenson
"The contract is important to me because I came up in a different time in publishing, when there was more job security and guaranteed benefits. In this volatile world, I want my amazing, hardworking younger colleagues to be protected."

— Sarah Rutledge
"A fair contract gives the employees of TIME a solid base from which to continue our hard work. I want to feel supported by the company, and a fair contract will help that."

— Katie Kalupson
"Every staffer at TIME deserves a fair and equitable contract."

— Julia Lull
"I support a fair contract to ensure that my colleagues are treated and compensated fairly for the work that they do and to help create a better workplace for future employees."

— Simmone Shah

“The contract creates a basic floor for working conditions. This is a job that I am passionate about and a contract in place means that I don’t have to think or even worry about my day-to-day working conditions. It also builds a greater sense of community—a sense of purpose and shared experience with my colleagues.”

— Victor Williams

"This contract matters to me because it ensures the work of my colleagues—the heart of TIME— is being valued and protected."

— Mariah Espada
"TIME journalists answer the call, day in and day out. A fair contract will help the entire organization carry out its mission, for years to come."

— Sean Gregory
"My colleagues and I deserve a fair contract that ensures we all are protected under just cause—not just a handful of us."

— Maddie Carlisle
"So much of what TIME puts out into the world is made possible by the employees it doesn’t protect. A fair contract that provides security for us all is minimal. Fair compensation that provides for a more diverse and equitable newsroom is crucial."

— Spencer Bakalar

“When I tell people I work for TIME, it’s always met with an admiration for a magazine that has been a household name for almost 100 years. I love TIME. I support the TIME Union because I want to be proud of how employees are valued. Workers are the heartbeat of TIME, and by paying them fairly, equally, and giving them a fair contract, you’ll show them that. Without them, there is no magazine. I stand in solidarity with the TIME Union, because everyone at this company is of equal importance.”

— Anne Most

TIME UNION 100

…

"I'm proud to work at TIME with such a talented group of journalists. I'm fighting for the contract we deserve, one that protects all of us—not just some of us—with just cause, layoff protections and fair pay."

"A large percentage of TIME's workers aren't covered by the current contract. That's unacceptable. We need a contract that protects all of us."

"Fair and competitive pay wouldn't just improve quality of life; it would also give people who may not come from wealthy backgrounds or have family money a fair chance to succeed in journalism."

"TIME Union has been instrumental in pushing for stronger EDI initiatives at the company—many of which were implemented after we mobilized around these critical issues. I’m fighting for a fair contract so TIME can be an equitable workplace for employees from underrepresented communities."

"Through uncertainty and no real security, my colleagues have done incredible work for this company. It's time for management to show appreciation of that work."

"I'm proud of the work that my colleagues do every day. We all deserve fair pay and a workplace that recognizes the value of our work. I believe that a strong contract will help build a better TIME."

"I want a fair contract that provides all TIME employees with the security and confidence that allows them to excel at their jobs and makes TIME a good working environment for everyone."

"My colleagues go above and beyond to make TIME great, working long hours at low salaries. We all deserve pay that reflects the value of our work and our contributions."

"Working amid a pandemic for almost two years, this team showed that we could deliver some of TIME's most outstanding journalism under any circumstances. In light of that dedication and perseverance, our team deserves a fair contract protecting all its present and future employees."

"We need a contract that establishes a set of standards that ensure equitable treatment, transparency and just compensation. These standards need to be commensurate with the high standards we set for ourselves as journalists."

"We union members are proud of our work at TIME. We deserve a fair contract, which benefits all workers and thus the organization as a whole."

"Every organization should be judged by how it treats those on the lower rungs and how their labor profits those at the top. A fair contract would raise them up and help us speak truth to power in our own place of business."

"Two years is too long to go without a fair contract, but many workers at TIME have gone even longer than that without essential job protections and without fair pay. It's past time for a contract that protects all of us."

"A fair contract for TIME's employees translates to a fair workplace which in turn creates a happy work environment. Talking to fellow coworkers has made me realize one simple fact: we are underpaid and overworked."

“We can’t compete where we don’t compare. We need fair, livable wages. We need a fair contract.”

"As a younger TIME staffer, I joined the company not knowing what my work was really worth. TIME Union helped me understand the true value of my work and what I deserve to be paid."

"TIME has built a global reputation as an authoritative voice based on trust and impact. I want a fair contract so that TIME builds a reputation as a company that offers its workers competitive wages and critical protections."

"A fair contract that demonstrates a true appreciation of the essential work of our colleagues will ensure that TIME remains a trusted resource and continues to attract a talented staff in the future."

'We need a contract that includes job protections and fairer pay. As we saw throughout the industry over the past 18 months, without a contract, job security can change in a hurry. And we need a voice in our working conditions so we can return to the office safely."

"I’m fighting for a fair contract because everyone deserves vital job protections and fair pay. TIME is only as strong as all the people working so hard to make it. Two years is too long."

"It's unsettling to wonder all the time when we will have a contract that clearly and fairly spells out the terms of our employment. Not having that has meant a constant sense of uncertainty that has persisted for far too long."

"I support a fair contract because a newsroom is a collective that’s only as healthy as its workers, and it’s well past time we give every worker the security to thrive and the opportunity to grow."

"It's important to me that we get fair wage increases for our hard work and fair severance protections if there were layoffs in the future, and our contract would guarantee both."

"My colleagues and I deserve to be valued and treated with respect as the life force of this magazine. A fair contract is the only way to ensure that we have a more diverse and equitable future at TIME. "

"I stand for a fair contract and equitable wages because I believe TIME can, and should, set the standard for the industry."

"I've worked alongside fellow union members for years who have been overworked and undervalued. A fair contract gets them the compensation and support they DESERVE from TIME."

"My colleagues and I have devoted years of our lives to this magazine. We deserve to be compensated fairly for our work."

"TIME would be nothing without the people who create it. Everyone at the company deserves to be paid fairly for their work. "

"We need a more diverse newsroom. TIME is only as strong as the people who make it are—I stand with my colleagues, many of whom are overworked and underpaid."

"From my 16 years at TIME, I know that the talent and dedication of the people behind the red border is why TIME continues to be impactful and respected. I support a fair contract so that we continue to be a beacon in upholding and valuing the importance of journalism."

"All of my colleagues deserve to be fairly compensated for the amazing work they do day in and day out. We need a fair contract to ensure that happens."

"I’m with the Union because I don’t want low wages to force my highly talented colleagues out of the profession. In addition, it’s only fair that all workers’ salaries keep up with NYC’s cost of living raises."

"I support the TIME union because I think everyone at our company deserves fair wages and opportunities to succeed."

"I'm fighting for a fair contract because my colleagues and I have worked our butts off through a year and a half of uncertainty amidst an unprecedented pandemic and deserve, at a minimum, cost of living raises and job security."

“TIME's workers are the backbone of the organization. It's time we're treated like it.”

"I’m fighting for fair pay so people from all backgrounds would not be discouraged from applying to TIME or staying at TIME."

"TIME employees should never have to choose between a job they love and a livable wage. A fair contract would ensure no one is put in a position where they are faced with that choice."

"Our publication is only as strong as the people who make it. A fair contract will ensure employees from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can work at TIME."

"My brilliant colleagues work tirelessly every day to produce impactful journalism that seeks to make the world a better place. It’s about time that TIME lived up to the values it espouses with a strong contract that ensures fair wages and protections for a more diverse and equitable workplace."

"We need a strong contract because people from all financial circumstances should be able to work at TIME. Fair wages are essential to creating an equitable workplace—and a relevant, dynamic publication."

"When I think of how important the contract is, I don't just think of myself. It's important to me to have a contract that protects all of us, not just some of us, and many of us aren't protected yet."

"I want TIME to be a safe, supportive and fulfilling workplace for everyone—and a workplace that pays enough to attract people from all backgrounds."

"I stand in solidarity with my TIME colleagues to demand a fair and equitable workplace. We need a contract that reflects the values of our staff and allows us to produce the best journalism possible."

“I'm constantly amazed by the talent, commitment, enthusiasm and work ethic I observe in my colleagues at TIME. Management needs to demonstrate that they see it, too, by meeting us halfway at the bargaining table and working quickly towards a fair contract for all of us.”

"I'm so proud to work at TIME with exceptional colleagues, who all deserve fair compensation, job protections and an equitable workplace. A fair contract is essential if TIME is to continue publishing strong, impactful journalism."

"The reason to have a contract is that there are periodic raises and hiring. Raises should be transparent, not leaving people to wonder who got what and why."

"TIME Union has been working hard to push for pay equity and the rights that me and my colleagues deserve. What is most important to me is that TIME is an equitable workplace and becomes a more diverse newsroom. We deserve a fair contract."

"Every TIME staffer deserves a fair contract that includes essential job protections, better pay and cost of living raises. "

"A publication is only as strong as its staff, and TIME employees commit so much of their lives toward the creation of an internationally respected magazine. Every one of its employees deserves to be protected by a fair contract. "

“The union has made TIME a better place to work, for me and for countless others. From just cause protections to fair wages, it's essential to a more equitable and accessible place for people from all backgrounds and experiences. It's long past time for a fair contract.”

"For me, what matters in a fair contract is setting a minimum salary that includes cost of living raises that accommodate for living in New York City."

"Just as every dollar is made of dimes, an institution like TIME is made valuable thanks to each employee and their stellar contributions. TIME's team of hard-working and dedicated colleagues, the company’s most important asset, deserves a fair contract."

"A fair contract should be a no-brainer if a company cares about its workers at all. If TIME means what it's said about changing over the past few years, then this is a necessary step in building that trust with those giving it their time and energy."

"The contract is important to me because I came up in a different time in publishing, when there was more job security and guaranteed benefits. In this volatile world, I want my amazing, hardworking younger colleagues to be protected."

"A fair contract gives the employees of TIME a solid base from which to continue our hard work. I want to feel supported by the company, and a fair contract will help that."

"Every staffer at TIME deserves a fair and equitable contract."

"I support a fair contract to ensure that my colleagues are treated and compensated fairly for the work that they do and to help create a better workplace for future employees."

"This contract matters to me because it ensures the work of my colleagues—the heart of TIME— is being valued and protected."

"TIME journalists answer the call, day in and day out. A fair contract will help the entire organization carry out its mission, for years to come."

"My colleagues and I deserve a fair contract that ensures we all are protected under just cause—not just a handful of us."

"So much of what TIME puts out into the world is made possible by the employees it doesn’t protect. A fair contract that provides security for us all is minimal. Fair compensation that provides for a more diverse and equitable newsroom is crucial."