The New York Times Tech Guild, which represents hundreds of technical employees at the giant newspaper, went on strike Monday, a day before Election Day.

The guild said in a statement that its members would begin daily protests outside The Times headquarters, starting at 9 a.m. Monday, according to the New York Times.

The planned walkout came after a September 10 vote in favor of a strike at a critical time if a deal was not reached: election week. Anticipation and interest in the 2024 elections are at a fever pitch, and the New York Times has the largest online subscription base of any U.S. newspaper and one of the busiest news sites.

According to the Times, the Tech Guild’s 600 members are in charge of the back-end systems that power the newspaper’s vast digital operations. The strike could affect the newspaper’s ability to cover the presidential election results between Donald Trump and Kamala Harrisas well as the hundreds of House races and dozens of Senate races that dominate the national debate and determine who will control Washington in 2025.

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“They left us no choice but to demonstrate the power of our work on the picket line,” Kathy Zhang, president of the guild unit, said in a statement, according to the New York Times. “Nevertheless, we are prepared to negotiate and get this contract across the finish line.”

According to the Times, negotiations continued well into Sunday and disagreements remained over issues such as the “just cause” provision that would prevent dismissal for reasons unrelated to misconduct, as well as the salary increases and return to power policies. Times management told workers Sunday that it had proposed a 2.5 percent annual salary increase, a minimum 5 percent increase for promotions and a $1,000 ratification bonus.

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At a gathering last week, a Guild staff member calls on the company to stop “dragging its feet” on a contract and guarantee a strike if it fails to get its act together. He also criticized the “myth” that popular apps and services repair themselves without human intervention behind the scenes.

“The work we all do in the Tech Guild is as human and as directly fueled by our work as the work of our colleagues in the newsroom,” he said.

The New York Times building. (Bloomberg/Contributor)

According to some reports, the site’s famous “voter needle” showing the likelihood of Trump or Harris winning could be in jeopardy; technicians also ensure that the Times’ apps, push alerts and other digital mechanisms are running smoothly.

Negotiations sometimes went badly; the Tech Guild posted on X on October 30: “One of the most offensive things we’ve seen since @nytimes During this contract struggle, managers attempt to discourage our members from striking and even provide a covert means of strike breaking during a strike by providing remote code to a contractor. The fight against unions is disgusting! »

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Fox News Digital has contacted the Guild and the New York Times for comment. A spokesperson told the Times there were “robust plans in place to ensure we are able to fulfill our mission and serve our readers” regarding the tech staff walkout.