Sports Illustrated Union Wins AI Guardrails and Salary Increases in New Contract
Unionized journalists at Sports Illustrated ratified a three-year contract with publisher Minute Media that includes protections against editorial use of artificial intelligence, salary floors of $70,000, and enhanced parental leave.
The 64 journalists represented by the Sports Illustrated Union negotiated the deal after nearly 18 months of bargaining following Minute Media's takeover of SI in 2024. The previous publisher, The Arena Group, lost its license to publish the outlet.
Salary and Financial Terms
Every union member now earns at least $70,000. The average member received a 5.22% raise upon ratification, with guaranteed 3% increases in both 2027 and 2028.
The contract also caps annual increases on medical premiums, lowers family plan premiums, and adds funding for health savings accounts on high-deductible plans.
AI Protections and Editorial Control
The contract requires that SI journalism be created by humans. If Minute Media uses AI for editorial work, the company must follow journalistic ethics standards and contractual editorial integrity protections.
A union employee will sit on the company's AI Board, giving journalists direct input on how the technology is deployed at the outlet. This represents a concrete mechanism for writers to shape AI decisions affecting their work.
Remote Work and Job Security
Journalists who have worked remotely since 2020 can continue doing so. The contract protects remote work arrangements going forward.
The deal includes just cause protections for employees and enhanced severance if layoffs occur due to AI implementation or violate seniority rules. Severance caps at 26 weeks, though long-time employees can earn additional severance beyond that threshold.
Service at previous SI operators counts in full toward tenure, protecting journalists who experienced ownership changes.
Parental Leave Expansion
Primary caregivers now receive 16 weeks of parental leave, while secondary caregivers get 12 weeks. The previous contract terms were not specified in the announcement.
Dan Falkenheim, a fact checker and union chair, said the contract "upholds the principles and protections we fought so hard for four years ago" and provides "a strong foundation for Sports Illustrated's future at Minute Media."
The union negotiated these terms while SI faced significant instability from ownership transitions. Understanding how generative AI and large language models work has become essential for writers seeking to negotiate similar protections at their own outlets.
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