For corporate America, no news is good news

Journalists who have been fighting for a fair contract for 18 months have walked out of the Washington Post.

“Washington Post employees have been negotiating with management for 18 months,” said a statement from the Post Guild, the union representing journalists. “We still lack a contract that keeps pace with record-level inflation and guarantees workers a living wage.”

“Meanwhile, because of our previous publisher’s mismanagement, the company has tried to balance its books by laying off nearly 40 people in the last year. Then they offered ‘voluntary’ buyouts to another 240 staffers this fall. Now The Post has threatened that if they don’t get enough people to leave, more layoffs will be next,” said the union.

“That means fewer Post employees making the critical journalism that keeps our communities informed and holds our public officials accountable. Democracy Dies in Darkness, right?,” the union said.

“Time and again, we’ve told the company’s leaders that we’re worth more. They have refused to listen. They have refused to bargain in good faith. They have broken the law again and again,” said the union.

“So we’ve told company leaders that on Dec. 7, we’re striking for 24 hours, because we know there is no Washington Post without us,” the union said.

The AFL-CIO said on social media,” Don’t cross the picket line—no engaging with any Post content today, including print, digital, recipes & more!”

The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos. At least 13,648 letters have been sent to the publisher from readers and others who support the workers.