Washington Post Staff Appeals to Readers for Support During Strike

Employees of The Washington Post have released a video message calling for public support for their planned 24-hour strike. The strike is in response to failed negotiations between the employees’ union and management over issues such as pay, remote work, and employment conditions, which have been ongoing for 18 months.

In the video, The Post’s correspondents emphasize the risks they have taken in their work, including covering wars and the global pandemic. They highlight their role in holding powerful institutions accountable and assert that they deserve fair pay and a transparent pay process.

Multiple employees featured in the video state, “I’m worth a living wage, I’m worth raises that keep up with inflation. I’m worth equal pay to my colleagues, regardless of my race or gender. I’m worth job protections that value my years of service.”

The employees have announced their decision to walk off the job for 24 hours, stating that they believe they are worth more than what the company is offering. They urge readers to show their support by refraining from engaging with The Post’s content during the strike and by writing to the publisher to back their cause.

The Washington Post, founded in 1877 and one of the most prominent newspapers in the US, is currently owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. The Washington Post Guild, in a letter to readers, highlights the awards and global acclaim that the employees’ work has garnered, as well as the profitability it has brought to the paper.

However, the Guild criticizes the management for making bad business decisions that have led to layoffs and warns of further job cuts if buyouts do not suffice. The Guild accuses the management of refusing to bargain in good faith and shutting down negotiations on key issues.

The Guild emphasizes that The Post’s staff must be given a fair deal in order for the company to remain competitive, retain top talent, and produce the high-quality journalism that readers rely on.

On December 7th, the employees ask readers to respect their strike by abstaining from consuming any Washington Post content for 24 hours. Instead, they encourage sharing information about the strike and sending letters of support to the Post’s leaders.