Anna Wintour dodges Met Gala showdown as Condé Nast reaches tentative deal with union
Condé Nast has reached a tentative agreement on a contract with the union representing employees of the glossy magazine publisher — sparing Anna Wintour the prospect of having staffers picket the Met Gala Monday night.
Over the weekend, the union threatened to cause a scene at the glitzy fundraiser.
Condé Nast Chief People Officer Stan Duncan shared news of the agreement late Sunday night, writing to staff in a message obtained by The Post, “On behalf of the management bargaining committee and leaders throughout the business, we are pleased to come to tentatively agreed terms on a contract with the union.”
“This union includes GQ, Allure, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Self, Teen Vogue, them, Condé Nast Traveller, Ars Technica, Wired, Pitchfork and Architectural Digest, in addition to team members in audience development, commerce and video.”
On Monday the union, which represents more than 500 employees, expressed its excitement that their pledge to do “whatever it takes” to secure the contract ahead of “Fashion’s Biggest Night.”
“WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN: We are excited to announce that we have a tentative agreement with @condenast on our first contract. Our pledge to do ‘whatever it takes’ ahead of the #metgala2024 moved the company and our progress at the bargaining table kicked into high gear…” the union wrote on X.
The group, part of the NewsGuild of New York, listed some of their wins, which include a minimum base salary of $61,500, expanded bereavement leave, expanded family leave, and $3.3 million in total wage increases.
Additionally, the union announced it negotiated eight weeks of severance for employees on Condé’s layoff list, as well as three months of COBRA coverage — or a lump sum payment instead of COBRA.
“Our persistent fight for our rights and for the best win possible is why we have this tentative agreement. Ratification will take place this week,” the union added.
The deal comes ahead of Monday night’s Met Gala, hosted by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
