WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Washington Baltimore News Guild and Democracy Defenders Fund will proceed to arbitration on June 4 challenging the wrongful termination of Karen Attiah, former global opinions editor and columnist at The Washington Post. Attiah served the Post for 11 years with an unblemished disciplinary record. Under the Post Guild Collective Bargaining Agreement, bypassing progressive discipline requires proof of “gross misconduct” — a threshold management cannot meet.

“I spent 11 years at The Washington Post doing exactly what a columnist is supposed to do: speaking truth, sparking debate and giving voice to perspectives that too often go unheard,” said Attiah. “I was fired not for misconduct, but for doing my job. I am grateful to the Guild for standing with me, and I look forward to having the truth prevail in arbitration.”

The Bluesky posts cited in her termination letter, which addressed the racial double standards in response to violence, did not constitute misconduct. They were precisely what is expected of a columnist, which is to express opinions, engage the public and generate robust civic discussion. Penalizing a columnist for opinion and debate, while ignoring the threats directed at her, is not discipline with just cause. It is retaliation.

"Karen Attiah spent over a decade building a legacy of courageous, consequential journalism at The Washington Post," said Amos Laor, WBNG general counsel. "Her sudden termination — without any disciplinary history, without evidence of actual harm, and based on posts that fall squarely within a columnist's professional role — is a clear violation of our contract and an affront to press freedom. The Guild will not let this stand.”

“The Guild stands firmly behind Karen Attiah and all members who rely on our collective bargaining agreement for fair treatment and due process. We are confident that the arbitrator will find that The Washington Post had no just cause to terminate her employment.”

“We have entered an era in which powerful, wealthy people and the companies they control are complicit in this project to silence dissent and censor healthy public debate,” said Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “Karen Attiah's termination is retaliation dressed up as personnel policy. We look forward to laying out the facts during arbitration."

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ABOUT THE WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE NEWS GUILD

The Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035 of the Communications Workers of America, is the union for more than 3,000 news, information, nonprofit and labor organization workers in the mid-Atlantic and beyond, including the Washington Post, POLITICO, Bloomberg and CQ Roll Call. Together, we hold our employers accountable and ensure that our workplaces reflect our values, which include ensuring everyone is free from harassment and retaliation, earns equal pay for equal work and has a voice in their workplace.

Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.