AP News Labor Group Blasts Agency’s Photo Layoffs in Move to India: ‘Union Busting’

In a move that labor groups are labeling union busting, The Associated Press (AP) has announced plans to eliminate eight photo editing positions in the United States and transfer those responsibilities to India. The News Media Guild and AP News Guild argue this violates the news agency's labor contract. The cuts are part of AP's strategy to centralize photo and video production in India, a region where the company is expanding while simultaneously downsizing its U.S. operations. The union has filed a request for an arbitrator's ruling to contest the offshoring plan.

"The News Media Guild learned Monday that AP will offshore eight photo positions after already gutting its U.S. video production team," the guild stated on Twitter. "These highly experienced editors are key to our visual journalism's speed and accuracy. This clear union busting is outrageous."

AP defended the decision, stating that it complies with the collective bargaining agreement. "This is part of the changes we announced over the summer to significantly scale our visual production capabilities at our new hub in Noida, India," a spokesperson said. "We respect and follow the collective bargaining agreement."

The union contends that AP's move will weaken its visual journalism, as the affected editors play crucial roles beyond mere photo selection. These include directing photographers, verifying information, and scrutinizing images for alterations. They also work with freelancers to secure image rights. The guild believes this shift will cost AP decades of local knowledge, editorial judgment, and industry relationships.

"Fewer people, fewer communities being covered, and less news," News Media Guild President Kimberlee Kruesi lamented. "AP's staffing reductions have left some coverage areas abandoned and remaining journalists stretched too thin."