Staff working for BuzzFeed in London have requested recognition for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to a report on the BuzzFeed site, the majority of editorial staff (in a total workforce of about 80) have signed union cards.
On 25 November, the NUJ sent a letter to BuzzFeed UK’s editor-in-chief, Janine Gibson, requesting union recognition for collective bargaining purposes.
The NUJ organiser wrote: “We are hopeful you will see this as a positive and productive step in the long-term development of BuzzFeed UK.
“Your staff are very keen to emphasise they all enjoy working for BuzzFeed UK, and believe in building a sustainable business with you.”
BuzzFeed’s chief executive, Jonah Peretti, responded in an email. He wrote:
“Before any decision is made, it is incredibly important to me that I have a direct line of communication with all of you, that I know about any concerns, complaints, or suggestions for improvement you have, and that we can speak openly and directly with each other.”
Peretti is due to visit the London office later this month to discuss the issue with staff. In his email, he said: “We’d like an opportunity to talk directly with you before you make any irreversible decisions.”
The full texts of the statement by the unidentified NUJ spokesperson and Peretti’s email response to “UK BuzzFeeders” can be found here.
