2012.02.06 | CWA Canada Local 30130 | Halifax Typographical Union
Hard bargaining in Halifax aided by strong strike mandate
The negotiating team for newsroom employees at the Halifax Chronicle Herald go into conciliation Wednesday armed with a powerful strike mandate.
With nearly all of the bargaining unit's 84 members in attendance at a meeting Saturday, 96 per cent voted in favour of strike action, if necessary, in their contract talks with the company.
Among the key issues, the Halifax Typographical Union (HTU) is opposing the company's attempts to pay starting reporters and photographers thousands less than it currently does.
"The membership is very clear that the company's plan to turn back the clock on salaries is unacceptable," says union president Stephen Forest. "We care about the salaries of future employees because of the long-term implications it has all for employees."
The editorial bargaining unit includes reporters, photographers, editors, librarians and support staff, whose contract expired Nov. 21, 2011.
This strong show of support comes as the union is about to begin conciliation talks with the newspaper on Feb. 8.
The outcome of conciliation four years ago was another 96-per-cent vote in favour, but that was to ratify a tentative agreement achieved after three days of intense negotiations.
There were 103 members in the editorial bargaining unit in 2008. A year after signing the contract, the company stunned everyone by slashing newsroom staff by 25 per cent.
The HTU also represents press operators and employees in the composing room.