MN Star Tribune Guild Vows To Fight Layoffs After Pulitzer Win

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The union representing Minnesota Star Tribune journalists is pushing back against the company’s planned layoffs, calling the cuts a “direct attack” on staffers after a year of major Minnesota news coverage.

In a statement posted Tuesday, the Star Tribune Guild said its members helped cover “the most difficult and beautiful stories that take place in Minnesota,” including attacks on lawmakers, the shooting at Annunciation Church and School, and Operation Metro Surge.

“The argument made by Star Tribune management that these layoffs are going to improve our company in any way, shape or form lacks any foundation in reality,” the Guild said.

“This is a direct attack on the staff that just won a Pulitzer Prize for our work and has been widely praised — including by management — for its efforts.”

The Guild added: “The Guild will fight this decision.”

The statement came after the Star Tribune announced it would cut 15 percent of its workforce through buyouts and layoffs. The company has said about 65 jobs are expected to be eliminated across departments.

The Star Tribune has also said owner Glen Taylor and the company’s board are exploring a foundation ownership structure.

The paper won a 2026 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Annunciation Church and School shooting.

The Guild’s statement framed the layoffs as coming after an especially intense stretch for the newsroom, including coverage of the Annunciation shooting, Operation Metro Surge, and the attacks on Minnesota lawmakers.

“The impact of those stories is felt by everyone in this newsroom,” the Guild said.

The cuts come after the company last year saw 159 job losses tied to the closure of its Heritage Print Facility in Minneapolis.

The closure ended the Star Tribune’s 158-year run of local printing, as production shifted to a Gannett-owned facility in Des Moines, Iowa.