Unionized New York Times staffers are speaking out against a potential partnership between The Athletic and Kalshi.
The NewsGuild of New York—the labor union that represents more than 2,000 Times workers across three different units—sent a letter Wednesday to Times owner and publisher A.G. Sulzberger, Athletic publisher David Perpich, and senior editors at The Athletic and its parent company demanding that the prospective sponsorship agreement not go through.
The letter was unanimously approved by the Times Guild Unit Council and The Athletic’s contract action team.
Following publication of this story, a source familiar with the matter told FOS that The Athletic is not moving forward with Kalshi on a sports betting or prediction-market partnership. Conversations between The Athletic and Kalshi “evolved over time,” the source says. The Athletic is still in talks about potential advertising or “other commercial opportunities” with Kalshi.
Additionally, the source says the decision not to move forward with a sports betting or prediction-market partnership was independent of Wednesday’s letter from the union. “The letter did not prompt or play any role in it,” and several members of The Athletic’s staff were informed “a few days ago,” the source says.
