The majority of Washington Post employees who have accepted the company's buyout offer are minorities, according to a memo released on Wednesday.
The newspaper announced the program in February, adding that some volunteers may be turned down.
Washington Post Guild representative Fredrick Kunkle posted an update to the organization's Facebook page on Wednesday. He revealed that thirty-two Guild members have accepted the buyout, while the total number of employees comes close to fifty.
Kunkle also said it appears "a high number of the participants are Asian, African-American or Latino. By our count, more a dozen of these Guild-covered employees are minorities, most of whom are black."
He wrote that the buyout deadline, along with the resignation of writer Elizabeth Flock and Pulitzer snub, has made this "one of most dismal weeks in recent Post history."
Below, read the full text of Kunkle's memo (via Romenesko).
Colleagues,
We have learned today that 32 Guild-covered employees have chosen to accept the company’s buyout offer. We do not know how many editors have elected to participate in the buyouts, but union reps are hearing that the number probably puts the total close to 50.
It also appears, as many of you have been hearing, that a high number of the participants are Asian, African-American or Latino. By our count, more a dozen of these Guild-covered employees are minorities, most of whom are black.
We thought we would tell you as soon as we knew the numbers, but we won’t be giving out any names.
In what has to be one of the most dismal weeks in recent Post history (blogger resignation, buyout deadline and Pulitzer skunking, in case you’re keeping score at home), we certainly wish the best for those who have decided to leave.
Freddy