Washington Post Guild

@postguild.bsky.social

5591 Followers 49 Following

The union of the The Washington Post.

This is an image of a poster promoting the rally that will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 1301 K St. NW to save The Washington Post newsroom from rumored mass layoffs.
This image shows a logo of The Washington Post Guild and our statement: The Post Guild vehemently opposes any more cuts to the staff of The Washington Post. As we’ve seen in recent years, continuing to eliminate scores of workers who make this storied institution what it is only stands to weaken the newspaper, drive away readers and undercut The Post’s mission: to hold power to account without fear or favor and provide critical insight into communities across the region, country and world. If Jeff Bezos no longer supports that mission, then The Post and its readers deserve a steward who does. If you value The Post’s journalism and its renowned past — if you care about its future — we ask that you join us in our call to #SaveThePost.
To: Washington Post management From: [Your Name] We’re standing together to support The Post’s tech workers as they form the Washington Post Tech Guild to fix it. On April 7, a majority of over 300 technology workers at The Washington Post announced the formation of The Washington Post Tech Guild, a step they are taking to build a more equitable, transparent, and sustainable future for all tech workers at The Post. Around the world, The Washington Post has earned a reputation for being a news organization that holds the powerful to account. Every day, the technologists who power The Post innovate, develop and maintain tools and systems that benefit this world class journalism. Members of the Washington Post Tech Guild should be offered equity and inclusion, a seat at the table, fair compensation and benefits, job security, just cause protections, and flexibility and modern work practices. I hope you will recognize their union voluntarily and urge you to do so. These workers deserve the same fairness, transparency and respect that readers expect from The Post.
Graphic reads: I support The Washington Post Tech Guild
One member ended with a quote from Katharine Graham: “The greatest asset of any organization is its people.”
“Our work has been critical to the business’ success – just like any of the journalists covering these events on-the-ground. They were compensated for that work and we deserve to be paid too. I implore you to include a full payout of compensatory time in the package as we are deserving of this very basic respect.” - a member of the PR team
“I would have walked out with 2 years [of salary from the VSP]. Now you're offering me less than 37 weeks of pay. We deserve better. We deserve respect.” - Client Solutions member with over 30 years of service
“My colleagues and I were tasked with bridging the gap between the newsroom and the business, defending the brand, the leadership, and the spice rack of scandals this organization has had over the last two years. That is not an easy task, let alone one feasibly done by a team that faced substantial losses.” - a member of the PR team
"We are not being dismissed for our own poor performance, but for the poor decisions of others. ... To not have acceptable severance doesn't seem congruent to the Post I've known.” - Client Solutions member with over 20 years of service
“When I received the email last week, I was devastated, heartbroken and wondered what I am going to do at 63 years of age. I always dreamed I would retire at TWP, not be forced out.” - Client Solutions member with over 20 years of service
“We've carried the Washington Post for years and the company owes it to us to carry us a little longer.” – Client Solutions member with over 20 years of service
A few dozen people line an office hallway wearing red "GUILD" shirts.
A statement from The Washington Post Guild: We vehemently condemn The Washington Post’s firing of dozens of valued employees today, just days into the new year and at a time when the company is actively growing. It is especially disturbing that Post CEO, Will Lewis, has not directly addressed his employees in a whopping 230 days — during which tumult and turnover have driven many of our highest-profile colleagues to other companies and new policies have been implemented with little explanation. The diligent, talented workers that make The Post every day should not bear the consequences of poor decisions made by Post executives. They deserve better. The Post deserves better. We demand leaders do the right thing: address workers during this time of upheaval and stop punishing hardworking Post employees for the decisions made far above their heads.
Three people pose with a sheet cake that reads "PAY US"
A few dozen people holds strike sign in front of an office building. Some of them hold a News Guild of New York banner.
Worker holds a sign that says "Low pay is out of Style"
Close up in a worker in a mask holding a strike sign
Striking workers march with strike signs in front of an inflatable rat.
Dozens of people pose in front of an office building holding various strike posters with labor slogans. An inflatable rat looms above them.
(8) ALL OF THE ABOVE: “I am thankful for remote work because it allows me to be a present parent to my young kids who need me before and after school, cook nutritious meals for my family, be in better shape physically, and be a more productive and successful worker in every way possible.”
(7) Visiting and caring for loved ones: “It has allowed me to spend time with family during difficult times, to care for sick family members and be more effective in my work.” “I like having the flexibility to visit my parents and work remotely there a few times a year.”
(6) Less time commuting: “The invaluable time I get back on the days I don't commute. If I want to do my job well, I need that time to take care of myself. Adding several more hours per week of commuting undermines my job performance.” “It replaces commuting time with time with my son.”
(5) Autonomy of choice: “I'm thankful for the trust that my managers have that I will do my ‘really good’ work without having them police my actions.” “It treats me like the human adult I am. I am more than capable of deciding where is best for me to get my work done under the currently-in-place 3 day in office mandate.”
(4) Mental well-being:“Work/life balance, financial strains, the chaos of parenting and more all affected our mental health in such a challenging environment. I’d have left a long time ago if this sort of RTO had been implemented.” “I like the quietness of my home office, and as an introvert, not being around people all the time helps to manage anxiety.”
(3) Lower cost of living: “It saves me money.” “I am able to live in another city with my family.” “I am thankful for the saved thousands of dollars on meals, transportation and parking from working from my home office.”
(2) Work-life balance. “Being able to cook meals for my family and have more time to spend together.” “Remote work let's me be an equitable partner in my marriage.” “It gives me the chance to take care of household duties and pick up my children more easily.”
Graphic: (1) Our work is better. Quotes: “All of my award-winning and highest viewed work happened while working remote in collaboration with all my colleagues also working remotely.” “It allows me to make more calls for my stories, give my full attention to my calls and work in a quiet setting — all of which improve my work.”
Graphic reads: Why we're thankful for remote work at The Post. Doodles of Chat bubbles, a laptop and a computer cursor.