Members of the union representing about 250 employees of HarperCollins struck a tentative deal with the publisher, the New York Times reports.
The workers went on strike three months ago, demanding “higher pay, a greater commitment to diversifying staff, and stronger union protection.”
The proposed deal would give union members a $1,500 bonus, and would raise salary rates for several workers. Union representatives agreed to the deal, but it still has to be voted on by the membership at large.
The Washington Post reports that Stephanie Guerdan, an associate editor at the publisher and a union shop steward, said that there were “tears of joy” after the deal had been struck.
“I’m extremely happy to have come to this agreement,” Guerdan said. “It’s been a long time coming, and I think our members are going to be excited about the stuff that’s in it.”
The strike caught the attention of authors, one of whom, Monica Wood, had stopped work on her novel in solidarity with the union. The union used social media to great effect during the strike, at one point staging a “cover reveal” of a fake book titled While You Were Striking.
On Twitter, authors and union supporters reacted to news of the tentative deal. Writer Linda Holmes tweeted, “Assuming this holds and helps, this strike will have helped publishing in general and not just this team, which makes it an even more impressive act. As an author not even at HC, I’m just thrilled and indebted and delighted.”
And author Maureen Johnson wrote, “YESSSSSSSSSSS THEY HELD THE LINE AND WON.”
YESSSSSSSSSSS THEY HELD THE LINE AND WON https://t.co/xlurMAqWgi
— Maureen Johnson $7.99 (@maureenjohnson) February 10, 2023
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
