### New York Times Tech Workers Strike Amid Presidential Election

In a significant turn of events, the New York Times Tech Guild, representing the tech staff of the paper, began a strike on Monday morning, coinciding with the day before the US presidential election. The potential for a strike has loomed over the company for months, stirring concerns about possible disruptions in election coverage. The New York Times has confirmed that guild members will be protesting outside the Times headquarters daily starting at 9 AM.

The decision to strike follows a vote on September 10, where staff workers chose to walk out during election week if an agreement wasn't reached. With a vast readership relying on its election coverage, the Times faces the risk of disappointed subscribers. The strike was called by the Tech Guild after failed contract negotiations with the company’s management, which reportedly continued until late Sunday night.

Kait Hoehne, a senior software engineer at the Times and a Tech Guild member, expressed the group's reluctance to strike but emphasized that they felt compelled due to management's inaction on key issues. "We love our jobs and we're eager to return to them," Hoehne told the Washington Post. "However, the lack of progress in negotiations has left us no choice."

The guild comprises around 600 members who are responsible for managing the digital infrastructure that supports the paper’s operations. The strike is anticipated to affect election coverage, including the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, as well as numerous House and Senate races.

The impact of the strike extends beyond just election reporting. Members of the Tech Guild, including software engineers, product managers, data analysts, and designers, oversee various digital features like live blogs, mobile alerts, games, and the widely-followed election needle. Guild unit chair Kathy Zhang stated, "They have left us no choice but to demonstrate the power of our labor on the picket line. Nevertheless, we stand ready to negotiate and finalize this contract."

Hoehne highlighted the additional pressure elections place on the website’s systems due to increased traffic, stressing that the absence of experienced engineers could significantly affect operations. In solidarity with the strike, the Guild has urged readers to boycott New York Times games like Wordle and the daily digital crossword, as well as other digital services like the Cooking app. Annie Shields, a campaign lead for the News Guild of New York, also encouraged supporters to forgo their game streaks in support of the strike.