This month, as part of a wider BuzzFeed reorganization under new ownership, over a dozen HuffPost employees were laid off. We are heartbroken and enraged by these cuts – which come just a year after HuffPost laid off over 20% of its newsroom. Many of our impacted colleagues were award-winning journalists and some had been with HuffPost for a decade or more.

The HuffPost Union is grateful to have industry-leading severance language in our collective bargaining agreement. This round of layoffs clarified how critical these contractual protections are. Just before announcing layoffs, management quietly changed its longstanding policy of paying out unused PTO in the event of layoffs – a shameful attempt to deprive our non-union HuffPost and BuzzFeed colleagues of their hard-earned PTO.

With these funds, we hope to ease the financial burden that these cuts have placed on our colleagues. We also want to show our support and admiration for their time at HuffPost.

A donation in any amount sends a message of solidarity and aid at a difficult time in the media industry.

All funds raised will be distributed in equal amounts to those who opt-in to receive funds.

We are grateful for your generosity and consideration.