More than 700 Washington Post employees staged a historic strike on Thursday, marking the first walkout at the paper since the 1970s. The protest was triggered by stalled union contract negotiations and broader grievances with the company's leadership. The staff's dissatisfaction was vocalized by Sarah Kaplan, the Post's climate reporter, who highlighted concerns about the company's perceived bad-faith bargaining and unilateral termination of contract negotiations alongside the previously announced buyouts. The strike was aimed at demanding fair treatment and respect for the collective contribution of all Washington Post employees.
The employees' frustrations stem from a decade-long ownership by Jeff Bezos, who acquired the newspaper with the expectation of attaining profitability. Despite meeting this goal, the staff feels burdened by the consequences of what they perceive as mismanagement, particularly by former publisher Fred Ryan. They seek accountability from Bezos, maintaining that he holds the power to influence the current management team to resume negotiations with the employees' union in good faith.
During the 18-month bargaining period, there were significant changes in the company's leadership, including the appointment of a new CEO and publisher. The newspaper's financial struggles have become evident, with reports of projected losses and the recent offering of buyouts to 240 staff members. However, tensions heightened when the possibility of involuntary layoffs was mentioned if the separation package's acceptance didn't meet the target. The employees yearn for clarity regarding the company's long-term strategy, both from a business and editorial standpoint.
The employee union, Post Guild, has requested a 4% annual raise for three years, job security protections, and fair buyout processes. Still, the company's proposal offers lower raises and has led to further disillusionment among the staff.
While the Post spokesperson has assured minimal disruption to readers and customers during the strike, significant support for the walkout was evident, with entire departments, including Metro and investigative teams, participating.
The strike has raised questions about its potential impact, with some employees expressing doubt about its efficacy. Reports indicated internal hesitations among reporters who had initially supported the strike, as well as concerns about the next steps. Additionally, some high-profile staff members reportedly felt pressured to participate in the strike due to potential public criticism.
Post Guild's plan following the strike involves extending another one-day invitation to the company for genuine negotiation over the contract terms. If this is declined, the union is prepared to continue pressuring the company.
It's worth noting that the Post Guild's decision to strike occurred almost a year after the New York Times's unionized staff conducted their own historic protest. The differing circumstances between the two newspapers' labor disputes are evident, with the Times primarily focusing on financial aspects, whereas the Post's walkout was prompted by the perceived repercussions of the company's financial struggles and staff buyouts/layoffs.
Washington Post workers are on strike since they can’t get raises.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 8, 2023
Take a look at the video. These are the people calling you “racist bigots” in the media. pic.twitter.com/z787F5wAtK
Hundreds of Washington Post staff are on strike after insisting they are not paid enough by the newspaper, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos who has a $166 Billion net worth.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) December 8, 2023
pic.twitter.com/LydseSCvlm