Arbitrator orders Washington Post to rehire Karen Attiah
What's new: The ruling also grants back pay and found the newspaper lacked good cause to fire the opinion columnist.
A private arbitrator ordered The Washington Post to reinstate opinion columnist Karen Attiah and compensate her with back pay after finding the newspaper lacked good and sufficient cause to fire her. In an Aug. 20 decision, arbitrator Sarah Miller Espinosa wrote that the Post violated its labor agreement and failed to prove Attiah committed gross misconduct. The dispute stemmed from Attiah’s September dismissal over Bluesky posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Attiah called the outcome wrongful termination and said she was willing to return. The Post said it respects the arbitration process and declined further comment. The case followed a year-long labor fight under a contract clause allowing binding arbitration.