/ 1 January 2002

Post reporters protest by withholding bylines

Journalists at The Washington Post withheld their names from articles, photographs and artwork to protest management contract proposals.

No stories by the Post’s foreign correspondents or writers for the National, Style, Sports or Metro sections appeared with bylines in Wednesday’s issue. Some photo and art credits also were withheld.

Five of eight stories in a 40-page special supplement marking the Post’s 125th anniversary also carried no bylines.

”We hope to get the attention of Post, management,” said Calvin Zon, local representative for the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild.

Patricia Dunn, the Post’s vice president for labour, said the newspaper recently settled contracts with four other unions before they expired.

”While other newspapers across the country have been laying off employees, we have proposed wage increases and pension improvements,” she said.

Talks between and the Post and the Guild broke down May 16, two days before the three-year contract expired. The two sides couldn’t agree on wages, vacations and rules about leaving the union.

The Guild represents 1 450 Post editorial and commercial employees. The byline strike was planned for Wednesday and Thursday and may continue for two days next week, Zon said. – Sapa-AP