Condé Nast settled on May 27 with the NewsGuild of New York, resolving a labor dispute that began in November 2025 when four union members were fired after confronting Chief People Officer Stan Duncan outside his office at One World Trade Center. The incident, captured on video and covered by HR Executive, became a flashpoint for conversations about how HR leaders handle conflict during layoffs.
The original incident escalated quickly in part because employees were fired the following day. The NewsGuild immediately filed grievances and Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), arguing the terminations violated “just cause” provisions in union contracts and federal labor law.
Settlement terms
Under the terms of the deal as reported by The New York Times, three of the four fired workers—Alma Avalle, Ben Dewey and Jasper Lo—received a combined payout of more than $400,000. According to the NewsGuild of New York, their firings were converted to voluntary resignations with clean records and letters of recommendation, and the five suspended workers received back pay and had their disciplinary files expunged.
A fourth fired employee, Jake Lahut, a probationary employee at the time, declined a lesser settlement offer and is pursuing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB.
“This settlement sends a forceful message: Workers united in solidarity have the power to push back against bully union-busting bosses and demand their workplaces be governed by respect rather than fear,” said Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York, in a statement.
Read more: When layoffs become a safety risk, HR is the first line of defense
Responses
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, a Condé Nast spokesperson said that after arbitration began, the company “arrived at a mutual, amicable agreement that allows all parties to progress constructively,” emphasizing that “neither side admits to any wrongdoing or liability.”
In a separate memo to staff, obtained by TheWrap, Condé Nast added that it had upheld its internal “Condé Code,” which emphasizes mutual respect, and reiterated that it will enforce company policies and ‘does not tolerate harassment or misconduct in the workplace.
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