'The Washington Post' Won't Cut Paychecks This Year

What's This?

By Lauren Indvik2013-08-06 16:34:57 UTC

Those expecting immediate layoffs at The Washington Post and other newspapers recently acquired by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos can rest assured.

As part of the purchasing conditions, Bezos agreed not to cut the salaries or bonus opportunities of any employee over the next year. In addition, Bezos has pledged to maintain current welfare and severance benefits.

See also: Citizen Bezos: Journalism's New Best Friend?

Below is an excerpt from the 8-K filing, as first noted by Business Insider .

(viii) The Purchaser shall maintain for a period of one year following the Closing, (A) base salaries that are no less favorable for each Post Employee than those in effect as of the Closing, (B) for 2014, annual bonus opportunities that are comparable for each Post Employee to those in effect under the 2013 Bonus Arrangements, (C) severance benefits that are no less favorable for each Post Employee than those in effect as of the Closing under the Seller’s generally applicable severance policy as disclosed to the Purchaser, (D) welfare benefits (excluding severance) that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those in effect as of the Closing for Post Employees considered as a group, and (E) the Post Pension Plan and the Post SERP benefits at the level in effect as of the Closing, in each case excluding Post Employees covered by any Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Purchaser shall recognize the pre- Closing service of the Post Employees with the Seller for purposes of eligibility and vesting, and in connection with any severance or paid time off program, the Post Pension Plan and the Post SERP, benefit accrual purposes. The Purchaser shall waive any pre-existing condition limitations or actively at work requirements for purposes of all welfare plans of the Purchaser in which the Post Employees shall participate, and shall recognize all co-payments, deductibles and similar expenses incurred by each Post Employee (and eligible dependents) during the calendar year in which the Closing occurs under a Seller benefit plan, in each case under a comparable plan of the Purchaser. The Seller shall cooperate with the Purchaser to provide such information and documents relating to Post Employees on employment and benefits matters, including material trade union, employee representative or Collective Bargaining Agreements or material individual or collective grievances in the period prior to the Closing. Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall, and nothing in the Transaction Documents will, confer any rights to any Post Employee or any other third party.

This is good news for employees of The Washington Post and other publishing assets Bezos acquired Monday, a portfolio that includes the Express newspaper, The Gazette Newspapers, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Fairfax County Times, El Tiempo Latino and Greater Washington Publishing.

Of course, the contract doesn't guarantee that Post employees won't be laid off; pay cuts (and further layoffs) could hit once the one-year grace period expires.

Image: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Topics: Business, jeff bezos, Media, the washington post