Hearst Magazines Ratify 2nd Union Contract With WGA East

Writers Guild of America East members at Hearst Magazines reach agreement on new 3-year deal

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Writers Guild of America East members at Hearst Magazines have reached an agreement with management to ratify a second three-year collective bargaining agreement. The new contract was ratified with 98% approval by the 410-member bargaining unit and establishes 2-3% raises, applying retroactively to Jan. 1, 2026. The contract will also increase salary minimums in the lowest tier by 11.8% to $62,400 in every location where the magazine operates.

Why it matters

This new contract represents a significant win for the Hearst Magazines Union, which had previously staged a half-day walkout and strike earlier this month after failing to reach an agreement with management. The ratification of this second contract sends a strong message about the growing power and solidarity of the union, which represents employees across Hearst's various magazine publications.

The details

The new three-year contract includes several key improvements for Hearst Magazines Union members, including 2-3% raises retroactive to January 1, 2026, as well as an 11.8% increase to the salary minimums in the lowest pay tier, bringing that minimum up to $62,400 across all locations. The union's bargaining committee stated that the contract represents 'many important gains' and shows that the union is 'only getting stronger and more cohesive as time goes on'.

  • The contract was ratified on February 23, 2026.
  • The previous contract had expired on January 31, 2026.
  • Employees had staged a half-day walkout and strike earlier in February 2026 after failing to reach an agreement.

The players

Hearst Magazines Union

The union representing employees at Hearst Magazines publications, including Autoweek, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and others. The union is affiliated with the Writers Guild of America East.

Hearst Management

The management team at Hearst Magazines that negotiated the new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Hearst Magazines Union.

Sara David

The VP of the WGAE's online media sector, who praised the Hearst Magazines Union members for their solidarity and stated that the ratification is 'not complacency' but a 'starting point for the next negotiations'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We made many important gains — better raises, higher wage floors and an improved 401k match — for members of our unit with this contract. We also know there is still a great deal of work to be done to make Hearst Magazines a place we can all be proud of. We hope this ratification sends a clear message to management that we are only getting stronger and more cohesive as time goes on, and that we will always fight for a more equitable workplace.”

— Hearst Magazine Union bargaining committee (dnyuz.com)

“Hearst management consistently underestimated the solidarity of the Hearst Magazines Union. While this contract is a step forward, our members are clear-eyed that there is still more to fight for: meaningful AI protections, flexible remote work policies, and wages that reflect their contributions to the $13.5 billion in profits Hearst boasted last year. We are proud of this membership, and Hearst should understand that this ratification is not complacency — it's a starting point for the next negotiations.”

— Sara David, VP of the WGAE's online media sector (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

The Hearst Magazines Union will likely continue to advocate for further improvements to wages, benefits, and working conditions in future contract negotiations with Hearst management.

The takeaway

This new contract represents a significant victory for the Hearst Magazines Union, demonstrating the power of collective bargaining and the growing solidarity of the union's membership. While the current agreement includes important gains, the union has made clear that there is still more work to be done to ensure Hearst Magazines is a truly equitable workplace.