This past Friday (Feb. 17) my staff and myself
(10 union
members) were laid off from the St. Catharines Standard.
We were really blindsided by Osprey.
We didn't see
this
coming — our pre-press department was the most efficient,
well run department
of the three local papers in the Niagara Region.
I was the
Supervisor of the
pre-press department, but also a union member. I have been a member
of the Guild (ITU) since 1973.
The only reason
behind this
layoff was to get rid of the union. Plain and simple. Osprey
is intent on running
a non-union shop out of their Welland office.
They
have informed us
that four jobs are available in Welland, which I know are
already filled.