American Guild of Oxford University Press Stages One-Day Strike in Response to Unfair Labor Charges

Members of the Oxford University Press USA Guild (a unit of News Guild-CWA Local 31222) staged a one-day strike Tuesday after filing multiple unfair labor practice (ULP) charges after nearly three years of contract negotiations with Oxford University Press. The Guild represents approximately 150 OUP USA employees, who voted to form a union in September 2021.

The union alleges that Oxford University Press, on several occasions, hired people outside of the Guild’s jurisdiction after members of the bargaining unit left the company. If this practice continues, the very existence of the Guild is threatened. Additionally, OUP took unlawful and retaliatory action by terminating the OUP USA Guild Unit President without first negotiating with the Guild for this decision, as required by U.S. labor law; withheld salary increases and evaluations from Guild members; and took retaliatory action for protected communication, sanctioning a member for an electronic signature containing a message about his working conditions.

“So far, it’s been a tremendous sign of collective strength,” the unit’s president, Scott Morales, told Publishers Weekly. “I have never felt so good and justified in doing an action like this until this morning.” Follow the union on social media for updates on their fight!