Washington Post journalists planning one-day strike: Union

Washington Post journalists are planning to walk off their jobs in a 24-hour strike on Thursday, according to their union.

The Washington Post Newspaper Guild announced in a letter to the Post’s readers on Tuesday that its members will be participating in the 24-hour strike over management refusing “to bargain in good faith” and walking out of negotiations. The union said management “shut down” negotiations discussing issues like pay equity, pay raises, remote work policies and mental health resources.

The Guild said that the strike “is not a decision we came to lightly,” noting the “impact it will have on the people, issues and communities we cover.” However, the letter pointed to recent layoffs at the paper and proposed buyouts as another reason for its strike.

“Our work has won international acclaim and coveted awards and made The Post lucrative again,” the letter states. “Then our former publisher’s bad business decisions squandered our profits.” 

“Instead of executives bearing the weight of this mismanagement, The Post repeatedly made workers pay the price. In the last year, the company has laid off nearly 40 people. If buyouts don’t net another 240 cuts, Post leaders warned more layoffs will come,” the letter continued.

This strike comes as William Lewis, former CEO of Dow Jones and the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, prepares to step into the role of The Washington Post’s new CEO and publisher next month. The newspaper’s former publisher, Fred Ryan, stepped down earlier this year.

The union said that the contract negotiations are focused on securing strong job protections, making sure workers are making a livable wage and providing deserved retirement benefits.

“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,” its letter reads.

The Guild is asking its readers to not engage with the Post’s content during the planned strike.

Sarah Kaplan, chief steward and bargaining committee member for the Post Guild, said that 750 employees have pledged to strike on Thursday, adding that hundreds of people are expected to attend a picket and rally that day.

Kaplan said that the company has refused to move on its “last, best and final” offer to the Guild last month, adding that the offer “does not include wage increases that keep up with the economy or our competitors, fails to guarantee critical mental health benefits, and does not engage with a host of other open issues that are important to Post Guild members.”

“Even after the Guild notified the company of our strike, they are refusing to budge,” Kaplan said. “But if you ask any one of the roughly 750 Post employees who have pledged to walk out on Thursday, they will tell you that the company’s offer is simply not good enough.”

A Post spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill that the newspaper respects the Guild’s right to strike.

“We will make sure our readers and customers are as unaffected as possible,” the spokesperson added. “The Post’s goal remains the same as it has from the start of our negotiations: to reach an agreement with the Guild that meets the needs of our employees and the needs of our business.”

–Updated at 1:26 p.m.