(IntegrityPress.org) – On Thursday, December 7, more than 700 personnel from The Washington Post initiated a 24-hour walkout due to prolonged and unproductive contract negotiations that have persisted for 18 months. The group of employees, including reporters, producers, editors, and business-side staff, gathered for a demonstration outside the Post’s iconic downtown headquarters. It is a significant protest action for the company, the first of its kind since the mid-1970s.
In an online statement, the union attributed the current financial struggles of the Post to the inadequacies of past leadership and emphasized the need for a contract that aligns with record-level inflation while guaranteeing a living wage for workers.
Responding to the walkout, a spokesperson for the Post conveyed respect for the rights of the Guild-covered employees to engage in the planned one-day strike. The spokesperson emphasized the Post’s commitment to reaching an agreement that caters to both employee needs and business requirements.
In a pre-walkout video, Post staffers urged the public to support their cause by not crossing the picket line. They called on readers to abstain from interacting with content on the Post’s website and requested freelancers to disregard assignment offers during the strike.
The walkout occurs amid efforts by Post leadership to address a $100 million shortfall, contemplating potential buyouts or layoffs as measures to bridge the financial gap. Will Lewis, the incoming CEO and a Dow Jones veteran, faces the challenging task of reversing declining readerships and subscriptions amid escalating costs.
Over the past year, the Post has reportedly laid off nearly 40 employees, with the Guild revealing that only half of the voluntary buyout offers have been accepted. Acting CEO Patty Stonesifer has hinted at the possibility of “involuntary buyouts” if the target is not met. This strike follows other notable actions within the media industry, including a 13-day walkout by Insider staff and two strikes by employees at The New York Times in the last year.
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