According to Reuters, Unionized journalists at The Washington Post are going on a 24-hour strike this Thursday to protest against staff cuts and what they perceive as the management's failure to negotiate sincerely in the 18-month-long contract talks. This comes amid financial challenges for the newspaper, with a projected year-end loss of $100 million a week after William Lewis, former Publisher of The Wall Street Journal, was named chief executive and publisher.
Industry Challenges And Threats
The Washington Post and the Media Industry are grappling with the difficulty of establishing a viable business model due to the impact of the internet on journalism economics and the decline in digital advertising rates.
Executives at The Post, owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, announced that they are offering voluntary buyouts to employees to reduce the workforce by around 10% and decrease the size of the newsroom to approximately 940 journalists.
The Washington-Baltimore News Guild, representing over 1,000 non-news staff at the Post, claims that mismanagement by the previous publisher resulted in nearly 40 layoffs last year. The guild alleges that the company aims to reduce 240 jobs through buyouts. According to the union, management is threatening more layoffs if too few staff members accept voluntary severance packages, which they still have not responded to.
24-hour Strike For Better Contract
In an online statement, the Guild expressed concern about the impact on journalism and accountability if layoffs proceed. After 18 months of contract negotiations, the union claims the company is not offering fair pay and refuses to negotiate sincerely. Consequently, they have announced a 24-hour strike on December 7, where 700 Washington Post employees intend to join.
The Post Guild, representing the majority of journalists, production specialists, and drivers, conveyed their frustration with ongoing contract negotiations with Post management in a letter to readers on Tuesday, indicating that they were trying to negotiate for the past 18 months for a better contract. However, the administration has consistently refused to negotiate sincerely, unlawfully stopping discussions on essential matters like fair pay, raises in line with inflation and industry standards, remote work policies, mental health support, and a buyout plan aiming to cut the workforce by 10 percent.
Buyout Efforts
The effort to encourage buyouts hasn't been very successful in the newsroom. Executive Editor Sally Buzbee informed employees last week that only 36 newsroom workers had accepted the packages. Interim CEO Patty Stonesifer warned last week that layoffs might happen if buyouts are ineffective, with plans to cut 240 positions.
In a Guild-produced video, Post journalists, including chief Ukraine correspondent Siobhan O'Grady, pledged to join the strike and told readers to avoid Washington Post journalism during the walkout. The video emphasizes that they believe they are worth more than the bosses offer. William Lewis is scheduled to assume his duties on January 2, 2024, succeeding Patty Stonesifer, an interim chief executive in June, and Fred Ryan, who served as CEO and publisher for nine years.
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