BuzzFeed Union Votes to Authorize Newsroom Strike Amid Escalating Tensions

thewrap.com:

“The BuzzFeed News Union has fought management’s proposed newsroom cuts before, and we won’t roll over this time,” Addy Baird, political reporter at BuzzFeed News, said in a statement. “Our union stands together to fight for a strong contract that includes strong buyouts, but let me be clear: The decision to gut our newsroom is an absolutely shameful one, and Jonah Peretti should be deeply embarrassed.”People with knowledge of the vote told TheWrap that BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti didn’t show up to the meeting with the union on Tuesday.

Peretti doesn’t legally need to appear at union negotiations, as negotiations are typically handled by company representatives.

However, the union earlier this week called on Peretti to attend as he has been avoiding addressing their questions since the announcement of job cuts came earlier this month.Staffers were also left without answers when they said Peretti left an all-hands meeting just before it was opened up for questions after the announcement.NewsGuild-CWA president Jon Schleuss previously said to TheWrap, “Is Jonah Peretti going to show up on Tuesday, not be a coward, and speak directly with his workers?