["Were worth more than what theyre offering," said the Washington
Post News Guild.]
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WASHINGTON POST WORKERS PLAN STRIKE TO PRESSURE BEZOS ON CONTRACT  
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Julia Conley
December 6, 2023
Common Dreams
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_ "We're worth more than what they're offering," said the Washington
Post News Guild. _

The building of the Washington Post newspaper headquarters is seen on
K Street in Washington, D.C. on May 16, 2019., Eric Baradat/AFP via
Getty Images

 

More than 700 unionized staffers of _The Washington Post _made a
request of readers on Wednesday: For 24 hours starting on Thursday,
December 7, they said, "please do not engage with any _Washington
Post _content"—including reading the venerated newspaper's print
and online editions, listening to podcasts, watching videos, or
filling out the crossword puzzle.

The journalists and staff members are staging a one-day work stoppage
to protest extensive staffing cuts in the newsroom over the past year
and management's refusal to "bargain in good faith" and offer a fair
contract to members of the Washington Post News Guild.

"For 18 months, members of our union, the Post Guild, have sought to
negotiate a fairer contract for us all," wrote 
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union to readers. "But management has refused to bargain in good faith
and repeatedly—and illegally—shut down negotiations over key
issues, such as pay equity, raises that keep pace with inflation and
our competitors, remote work policies, mental health supports, and a
buyout package that seeks to reduce our workforce by 10%."

"That's why, on December 7, _Washington Post_ workers are going on
strike for 24 hours," the workers said.

On social media, the union detailed
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demands and contrasted them with management's offers in the most
recent negotiations.

The Post Guild asked for raises of 4% annually for three years to help
staffers support themselves and their families amid inflation and the
rising cost of living; management offered just 2.25% in the first year
and 2% in the second and third year of the contract.

The newspaper—owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
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currently the third-richest person in the world with a net worth of
$167.8 billion—also said it would provide "no mental health[care]
guarantees" and that it has "absolute power to demand full-time return
to the office at any time." The union had called for a continuation of
the current hybrid working arrangement with staffers permitted to work
from anywhere for four weeks out of the year.

"We're worth more than what they're offering," said the Post Guild.

Now we’re 18 months into negotiations, and management is refusing to
bargain in good faith over key issues. pic.twitter.com/CxG14ezSB5
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— Washington Post Guild (@PostGuild) December 6, 2023
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The union has also voiced objections to repeated staffing cuts at
the _Post _this year. The company has laid off nearly 40 people in
2023, said the Post Guild, as well as offering "voluntary" buyouts to
240 employees.

"Nowthe_ Post_ has threatened that if they don't get enough people
to leave, more layoffs will be next," said the union in another
message to readers
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which members asked the public to write to the newspaper management
and tell executives they support "its workers in our fight to keep our
jobs and earn a living wage."

The_ Post _currently aims to shrink its workforce by about 10%, with
about 940 journalists
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the newsroom.

"That means fewer _Post _employees making the critical journalism
that keeps our communities informed and holds our public officials
accountable. Democracy Dies in Darkness, right?" said the unionized
workers, quoting the company's slogan that was adopted in 2017.

In a video posted on social media, some of the Guild's 700 dues-paying
members—who work in editorial, advertising, and non-newsroom
departments—shared how they are continuously covering a tumultuous
time in U.S. history, from the January 6 insurrection, to the Covid-19
pandemic, to the climate crisis.

"I'm worth a fair and transparent pay process," said publicist
Kathleen Floyd.

"I'm worth job protections that value my years of service," added
health and medicine reporter Lenny Bernstein.

Workers @washingtonpost
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contract negotiations with our bosses for 18 months.

But the company is refusing to pay us what we’re worth or bargain in
good faith.

So on Dec. 7, we’re walking off the job for 24 hours.
pic.twitter.com/GCraL1I0nm [[link removed]]

— Washington Post Guild (@PostGuild) December 5, 2023
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Nearly 750 _Post_ workers are expected to join the walkout on
Thursday, _Reuters_reported
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"Taking this historic action is not a decision we came to lightly. We
take seriously the impact it will have on the people, issues and
communities we cover," said the Guild in its letter to readers.
"The_Post _cannot stay competitive, retain the best talent, or
produce the kind of elite journalism you rely on without giving its
staff a fair deal."

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel
free to republish and share widely.

_JULIA CONLEY is a staff writer for Common Dreams._

_COMMON DREAMS is a reader-supported independent news outlet created
in 1997 as a new media model._

_Our nonprofit newsroom covers the most important news stories of the
moment. Common Dreams free online journalism keeps our millions of
readers well-informed, inspired, and engaged._

_We are optimists. We believe real change is possible. But only if
enough well-informed, well-intentioned—and just plain fed up and
fired-up—people demand it. We believe that together we can attain
our common dreams._

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rights, equality, and peace. Common Dreams is committed to not only
being your trusted news source but to encouraging critical thinking
and civic action on a diverse range of social, economic, and civil
rights issues affecting individuals and their communities._

* Washington Post
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* strike
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* Jeff Bezos
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* unions
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