EASTON, Pa. — Writers for Hearst magazines such as Esquire, Cosmopolitan and Popular Mechanics staged a walkout at the publisher's Easton office Thursday, saying they refused to work until working conditions are improved.
The workers are demanding higher wages, longer severance pay and more transparency within the company. They describe some of Hearst's management methods as "opaque."
- Staff of Hearst Magazines staged a walk-out in Easton today
- They are demanding higher wages, more transparency from management and better severence packages
- The union said it has made the same demands since 2019
The union, which is a member of the Writers Guild of America, said it has made the same demands since 2019.
"Now we'll get a little personal here, I have worked many jobs to supplement my income. I have worked as a custodian — I have done custodial work. I have worked graveyard shifts as a security guard. I have worked in restaurants I have worked at farmer's markets. Thank you. I know that I am not alone."Jennifer Leman, senior editor at Hearst Magazines
Many staff members at the walk-out said they are largely making barely enough money to get by.
"Now we'll get a little personal here," Jennifer Leman, a senior editor for several Hearst magazines said through a megaphone.
"I have worked many jobs to supplement my income. I have worked as a custodian — I have done custodial work. I have worked graveyard shifts as a security guard. I have worked in restaurants I have worked at farmer's markets. Thank you. I know that I am not alone."
Staff of @Hearst Magazines walked out of their Easton, PA office today. Union reps cite unfair wages, and poor treatment. @LVNewsdotcom pic.twitter.com/ba2mflpJnD
— Julian Abraham (@JulianJAbraham) March 23, 2023
Interrupting the speeches at various points were enthusiastic car horns beeping — people driving by and responding to the signs that read "honk if you love workers."
A common thread in the workers' speeches was unmanageable workloads, and pay not keeping up.
One of the items the union said it's demanding is a clear cut job description for every staff member — the lack of which it said is being used as a tool from the company to expand workloads and save money on hiring.
"I've seen folks get burnt out, mostly because they just get tired of working for crappy wages, which is another thing that we're fighting for," said Dan Chabanov, who identified himself as a "test editor" for Bicycling Magazine.
Chabanov said he spends much of his day riding bikes and reviewing them in articles.
"And yeah, they get sick of grinding, and maybe they decide they want to go somewhere else," Chabanov said into the megaphone. "And what happens? Their workloads just get spread out on their colleagues."
As the wind and rain started to pick up, the scripts the strikers printed out were falling off of the music stand being used as a podium. Without a word, two employees of the company shuffled out from the crowd and held them in place for their colleague, kneeling on the wet ground.
According to Chabanov, that's what it's been like at the company lately — people picking up the slack and looking out for each other, under whatever circumstances happen to arise.
Hearst Magazines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
