One of the things that Newsweek left behind when it was sold by Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp was a rarity for a Web-only operation — a unionized work force at the Daily Beast.
The Newspaper Guild already had Newsweek under its jurisdiction and added the Daily Beast in the short — but unhappy — merger of the two that ended last year with the sale of Newsweek to International Business Times.
While Newsweek shipped out and most of the staff was laid off, about 30 journalists who still work for the Daily Beast remain unionized.
The contract is currently up for renewal and one of the proposals on the table from IAC is to do away with guaranteed vacation time.
It would allow workers to take time when they need it, provided it does not interfere with work.
Newspaper Guild President William O’Meara said, “It is a very unusual provision. I am sure it will be discussed.”
A spokesman for the Daily Beast said the plan has proven “quite popular” with IAC employees.