Journalists at the Los Angeles Times have taken a decisive step in their long-running labor dispute, voting overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after more than three years of fruitless contract negotiations. The move, announced on October 10, 2025, marks a pivotal moment for the West Coast’s largest newspaper, reflecting deep frustration among staff over stagnant wages, job insecurity, and the direction of the historic newsroom.
The numbers tell a story of unity and resolve: eighty-five percent of voting union members supported the strike authorization, according to Reuters, representing a strong majority of the more than 200-member Los Angeles Times Guild. Just over 200 workers—98% of the union’s members—participated in the vote, as confirmed by the Guild’s official statement. While no strike date has been set, the vote gives the union’s leadership the power to call a work stoppage if deemed necessary, turning up the heat on management at a critical juncture.
“These negotiations have dragged on for far too long, and today’s vote results show that our members are fed up,” said Matt Hamilton, chair of the L.A. Times Guild and an investigative reporter, in a statement released by the union. “Now is the time for management to come to the table with a proposal that is truly fair for our members and helps restore The Times.”
The backdrop to this high-stakes standoff is a newsroom that has been battered by repeated rounds of layoffs and buyouts. Since the union’s formation in early 2018, the bargaining unit has shrunk dramatically—from around 450 members just three years ago to slightly more than 200 today. The Guild represents reporters, editors, designers, photographers, and other journalists who have seen their ranks halved as management has trimmed costs and restructured the paper.
For the journalists who remain, the pain isn’t just about numbers. They’ve gone four years without a cost-of-living increase, even as inflation has driven up the cost of food, rent, healthcare, and other essentials. The union is seeking raises that keep pace with inflation, along with stronger protections against layoffs and the outsourcing of work to non-union labor. These core demands reflect not just a fight for fair compensation, but a battle to preserve the quality and stability of local journalism in Los Angeles.
“Our photographs tell the story of Los Angeles in all its beauty and complexity, from the chaos of wildfires and unrest, to the joy of championships and the serenity of sun-drenched beaches,” said Jason Armond, a Times photojournalist and chair of the Guild’s Black Caucus. “That work deserves stability and fair compensation. A new contract is vital to maintaining a strong newsroom.”
The protracted negotiations have tested the patience of staff and union leaders alike. Contract talks have now stretched over three years—an unusually long period, as unions typically expect a resolution after a year or so of bargaining. The drawn-out process has fueled growing discontent and a sense that the newsroom’s future hangs in the balance.
According to the union, the company hasn’t just dragged its feet at the bargaining table. The Guild has accused management of trying to intimidate union members out of participating in collective bargaining or other union activities. In April, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found merit in the union’s allegations and issued a complaint against The Times, with a hearing scheduled for 2026. The episode has only deepened mistrust between the two sides and added urgency to the union’s push for stronger job protections.
“Without these protections, reporters like myself would not be able to create long-term meaningful relationships with the communities we cover,” said Karen Garcia, co-chair of the Los Angeles Times Latino Caucus and a breaking news reporter, highlighting the broader impact of the dispute on the quality of local coverage.
The labor unrest comes at a moment of broader upheaval in the Los Angeles media landscape. The LA Times has faced a spate of high-level editorial departures and has made controversial decisions, such as implementing an AI “bias meter” on opinion pieces—a move that has drawn scrutiny and debate both inside and outside the newsroom. Meanwhile, new competitors are circling: News Corp is launching a West Coast edition of the New York Post, and a separate publication backed by former Times editor Kevin Merida is in the works. These developments have heightened the sense that the Times is at a crossroads, with its reputation and influence on the line.
Union leaders argue that management’s current proposals risk devaluing the brand and undermining the owner’s investment. “We’re fighting for our livelihood, for our community and for our owner’s investment,” said Bill Shaikin, co-chair of the Guild’s bargaining committee and a veteran sports columnist. “Unfortunately, in a moment when several other news outlets are expanding into Los Angeles, management at The Times continues to make bargaining proposals that risk devaluing the brand and, in turn, the owner’s investment.”
The paper’s ownership has changed hands in recent years. The union was formed in early 2018, when the newsroom was owned by Tronc (now Tribune Publishing). Soon after, biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong purchased The Times, promising to provide “the tools and resources to produce the high-quality journalism that our readers need and rely upon.” The first three-year contract, negotiated in 2019, delivered starting salary increases, three consecutive years of raises, and new job protections, including limits on employee healthcare premium hikes. But the gains of that initial contract have been eroded by inflation and subsequent staff cuts, leaving many journalists feeling that the promise of a revitalized newsroom has yet to be fulfilled.
As the bargaining impasse drags on, the union’s strike authorization vote stands as a historic first for the Times newsroom. The journalists have never before walked off the job, having reached their first labor contract in 2019 without a work stoppage. The current authorization does not guarantee a strike, but it sends a powerful message to management—and to the wider world—that the staff is prepared to take unprecedented action to defend their livelihoods and the paper’s mission.
For the Media Guild of the West, the local union of The NewsGuild-CWA that represents Times journalists, the stakes are high not just for the LA Times but for the future of journalism across Southern California, Arizona, and Texas. With new competitors entering the fray and the industry facing relentless economic pressures, the outcome of these negotiations could shape the direction of West Coast journalism for years to come.
As the clock ticks and tensions simmer, all eyes are on Los Angeles. The strong strike authorization vote has placed the Times at a crossroads, with its newsroom, its brand, and its future hanging in the balance.
