WaPo Staffers Sounding Alarm Over Paper's Direction

Washington Post staffers have written an open letter to Jeff Bezos, the paper's owner, expressing concerns over pay practices, benefits, and job security. 

The letter, signed by over 400 employees, highlighted the struggles of unionized staff under the Washington Post Guild, who are seeking fair wages, benefits, and job security.

The staffers criticized the company's offer of a $10 weekly pay increase, which they deemed "unfair and even shocking" considering the current rate of inflation. They also expressed disappointment over the refusal to improve retirement benefits and the cutting of severance pay.

The letter was accompanied by a video message addressed to Bezos, in which employees appealed directly to him to treat them fairly. The Washington Post Guild has been negotiating with the paper's management for over a year, but the staff feels that their concerns have not been adequately addressed.

• The Post staffers believe Bezos is aligned with their mission, despite his decision last year to spike a presidential endorsement for Vice President Harris. It argues too much trust has been lost with readers as a result of recent leadership decisions.
• "We believe you take as much pride in the Washington Post as we do," it reads.
• "We are deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of this institution, broken with a tradition of transparency, and prompted some of our most distinguished colleagues to leave with more departures imminent."
• "This goes far beyond the issue of the presidential endorsement, which we recognize as the owner's prerogative. This is about retaining our competitive edge, restoring trust that has been lost, and re-establishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication."

Signed by top newsroom leaders, the letter represented non-unionized staffers, as well as staffers within The Washington Post Guild.

A Washington Post spokesperson declined to comment.