Reuters writers accuse managers of ‘stealing’ their work

The NewsGuild of New York has filed another unfair labor practice charge against the global news wire service Reuters, alleging that senior editors, including Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, improperly performed work reserved for union-represented journalists while contract negotiations remain at an impasse.

The charge, filed July 20, alleges Reuters managers assigned themselves reporting and writing, took primary bylines on stories produced by union journalists and failed to bargain with the Reuters Guild before transferring bargaining unit work to management. Each of these actions was illegal under state labor law, according to the NewsGuild of New York. 

The union says it has documented more than 250 alleged byline violations since 2025 and contends that several managers have been improperly classified despite spending much of their time performing work covered by the union's contract.

"We want our bosses to know that we take our work very seriously," Reuters Guild unit chair and energy correspondent Scott DiSavino said in a statement. "And protecting that work is fundamental to our rights as union members."

Reuters Guild represents more than 300 editorial employees at the international news organization. The latest complaint comes after months of stalled contract negotiations between Reuters and the Reuters Guild, whose previous agreement expired in December 2025.

Pattern of 'union-busting behavior'

It is the third unfair labor practice charge the NewsGuild of New York has filed against the company in roughly two months. Earlier complaints accused Reuters of retaliating against a union member after employees raised concerns about parent company Thomson Reuters' contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, and of interfering with a picket by union members.

Reuters did not respond to a request for comment regarding the union's allegations. 

NewsGuild of New York president Susan DeCarava described Reuters’ actions as clear examples of “union-busting.”

She said the latest allegations reflect a broader pattern of management undermining unionized journalists' work.

"It's a new low for Reuters' bosses," DeCarava said in a statement. "Instead of working with our members as a team to produce the journalism Reuters readers count on, management is putting themselves and their egos first. Their disrespect for their own staff is emblematic of the fear they have of our members' power and solidarity."