Free Speech Battle Ends in Victory for TNG-CWA Member

Last week, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035) announced that The Washington Post columnist and founding editor of its Global Opinions section, Karen Attiah, could soon be returning to work after a nearly yearlong fight over two posts she made regarding racial double standards in the public response to political violence.

An independent arbitrator ruled that The Washington Post violated its collective bargaining agreement with the Guild when it fired Attiah in September 2025. The ruling vindicates the Guild's fight and orders the Post to reinstate Attiah with back pay and lost benefits.

Members of the Washington Post Guild stood in solidarity with Attiah throughout the fight-including with a broad letter-signing campaign and flyering outside Post events to push the company to do right by Attiah and honor their contract.

"This decision confirms what we've said from the start: I was doing my job as an opinion journalist, and doing that job is not misconduct," said Attiah. "After spending over a decade of my career at the Post as an editor and an opinion columnist focusing on race, gender, and global human rights, I'm relieved to finally have that record set straight. I am grateful to everyone at the News Guild and Democracy Defenders Fund who stood behind me through this nearly year-long battle. I hope that this win sends a message to journalists and media institutions everywhere that freedom of expression is always worth fighting for."

Congratulations to Karen Attiah and all the members of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild for defending freedom and journalistic integrity.