It Could Happen Here The Conde Nast Union Busting Purge
Nov 19, 2025
In this discussion, Alma Avalle, the former Bon Appétit staffer and current VP of the News Guild of New York, shares her firsthand experience of being fired during Condé Nast's recent layoffs. She delves into the retaliatory tactics used against union organizers and highlights the racial and trans impacts of these changes, particularly at Teen Vogue. Alma also emphasizes the importance of workplace solidarity, the challenges faced by marginalized staff, and the potential for unions to transform media workplaces while pushing for justice and transparency from management.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
March On Management Then Fired
- Alma Avalle describes marching to Condé Nast executives to demand answers after Teen Vogue layoffs and being fired days later.
- She reports no severance, immediate termination, and insurance ending at month’s end after five years at the company.
Double Layoffs Signal Strategic Shift
- Two rounds of layoffs in one week created extreme fear and disrupted magazine operations.
- Rapid, repeated cuts signal strategic reshaping, not routine cost-cutting, and intensify workplace instability.
Resegregation As Media Control
- Alma and Mia link Teen Vogue’s purge to a broader right-wing media resegregation trend.
- They argue these moves prioritize narrative control over profitable, high-traffic journalism.