Numerous New York Times technology employees stage a strike prior to Election Day.

On Monday, the day before Election Day, the New York Times Tech Guild, comprising hundreds of the newspaper's tech employees, went on strike.

The guild announced that members would commence daily protests outside the Times headquarters at 9 a.m. on Monday, as reported by the New York Times.

The planned walkout occurred after a vote on Sept. 10 to strike if a deal wasn't reached at a critical juncture: Election Week. The anticipation and interest in the 2024 election are at a fever pitch, and the New York Times has the largest online subscription base of any American newspaper and one of the most highly trafficked news websites.

The Times reports that the Tech Guild's 600 members manage the back-end systems that power the paper's extensive digital operations. A strike could impact the paper's ability to cover the election results of the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as well as the hundreds of House and dozens of Senate races that are shaping the national conversation and determining who will control of Washington in 2025.

""Kathy Zhang, the guild's unit chair, stated in a New York Times report that they have no choice but to showcase their labor's strength on the picket line. However, they are prepared to negotiate and finalize the contract," according to the New York Times."

The Times reported that negotiations continued into Sunday night, with ongoing disputes over issues such as a "just cause" provision, pay raises, and return-to-office policies. On Sunday, Times management informed employees of their proposed compensation package, which included a 2.5 percent annual wage increase, a 5 percent minimum pay increase for promotions, and a $1,000 ratification bonus.

Last week, a Guild staff member spoke out at a rally, urging the company to take immediate action on a contract and threatening a strike if it failed to do so. Additionally, he challenged the notion that successful apps and services require minimal human intervention.

"The work we do in the Tech Guild is as human and directly powered by our labor as the work of our co-workers in the newsroom," he stated.

The "Election Needle" on the Times' website, which predicts the likelihood of Trump or Harris winning, may be at risk; tech workers are also responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the Times' apps, push notifications, and other digital tools.

The Tech Guild has criticized the New York Times for attempting to discourage its members from striking and providing a secret way to scab during a strike through remote code feeding.

The Guild and New York Times were contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for comment on the tech staff walkout. A spokesperson from the Times stated that there are "detailed plans in place to maintain our commitment to our readers" in response to the walkout.