Hearst Magazines workers in Lehigh Valley planning walkout

Unionized employees at Hearst Magazines, including several at its Enthusiast Group based in Easton, are planning to stage a walkout Thursday to protest the lack of a contract.

The walkout by the Writers Guild of America East is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will last the rest of the day.

The Easton office, which opened in 2020 at the former Heritage Lanes bowling alley on South Third Street, is responsible for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Biography and Best Product magazines.

Hearst acquired several of those magazines from longtime Lehigh Valley business Rodale Inc. in early 2018 and the workers voted to unionize in late 2019.

“WGA East members at Hearst have been bargaining a first contract for over two years and their last scheduled day of negotiations is March 28,” the guild said in a statement to Deadline.com. “With only one bargaining session left, the Hearst Union is taking collective action with a unit-wide walkout in their fight for a fair first contract.”

A spokesperson for Hearst Magazines said, “We are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees feel supported. We’ve reached agreement on important issues and look forward to continuing to bargain in good faith and finalizing this process with a fair contract. Negotiations resume next week and we have offered future meeting dates.”

Other rallies in support of the walkout will be held outside Hearst offices in New York; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Birmingham, Alabama.

The guild represents some 500 of Hearst’s editorial, video, design and photo staff at more than 25 brands including Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, Car & Driver, Oprah Daily, Seventeen, Elle, Redbook and Woman’s Day.