In a recent turn of events, the already strained relationship between media giant Condé Nast and the union representing over 400 of its staff at esteemed publications like Vanity Fair, Vogue, and GQ has reached a breaking point. On Wednesday, around 35 members of the Condé Union marched to executives' offices in protest of additional layoffs that were allegedly threatened during labor negotiations just a day prior.

During Tuesday's bargaining session, the company reportedly informed the union that it intended to add five more employees to its existing list of planned cuts. Moreover, they warned that more layoffs could be forthcoming, leaving the workforce feeling unsettled. The Condé Union, which also represents workers at other Condé Nast publications like Bon Appétit, Allure, and Glamour, claims that the company did not provide counterproposals on key union requests from the previous week's meeting on Zoom, which management abruptly ended.

Amidst the growing discontent, on Tuesday, Condé Nast filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Condé Union's parent labor organization, the NewsGuild of New York, citing "bad-faith, surface bargaining." The company memo circulated to Condé Union staffers stated that the charge was justified as the union had failed to seriously address the company's workforce reduction proposal in four months of negotiations. The union had only made one proposal regarding layoffs in December, requesting 28 cuts instead of the originally proposed 94, along with a minimum of seven months' severance and COBRA benefits for affected employees.

In response, president of the NewsGuild of New York, Susan DeCarava, condemned the charge as a "blatant attempt to force us into accepting their layoff plans." She emphasized the union's commitment to bargaining in good faith if management was willing to do the same.

Interestingly, these new round of layoffs were proposed just weeks after Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch stated that the company had no plans for further reductions, which has incensed the union and its members. Lynch had initially announced a five percent reduction in the workforce on November 1, and negotiations surrounding these cuts have been ongoing since then. The union had been informed that 94 of their members, constituting 20 percent of the Condé Union, were at risk.

The recent developments have caused frustration among the affected employees, with one Vanity Fair social media manager, Mark Alan Burger, describing Tuesday's events as a "gross display of management playing games with people's livelihoods." He deemed such behavior unacceptable and pledged to resist.

Reports indicate that neither CEO Roger Lynch nor chief content officer Anna Wintour were present at the offices during Wednesday's protest. The management team gathered in a room while the demonstration took place. The specific details surrounding the five additional job cuts remain unclear, however, it is known that the affected employees will be reassigned to a new entity named the "Central Content Unit," under the supervision of Chris DiPresso, vp of content finance and operations. The exact responsibilities of this unit will be revealed on March 25.

The bargaining between the Condé Union and management has been ongoing since September 2022 as both parties work towards reaching an agreement on a first union contract. The relationship turned contentious following the initial layoffs announcement on November 1, with the NewsGuild of New York filing an unfair labor practice charge against the company in January. In a show of solidarity, staff members staged a walkout on January 23, a day that coincided with the nominations for the 96th Academy Awards, which garnered significant attention from publications like Vanity Fair. The matter is yet to be ruled on by the National Labor Relations Board.

The negotiations are scheduled to resume on Thursday as both sides strive to find common ground amid mounting tensions.