Newspaper workers make
modest contract
gains despite ailing economy
Windsor Typographical Union | CWA Canada
Local 30553
Members of CWA Canada who work in
the mailroom at the daily newspaper in Windsor — a
city reeling from auto industry layoffs and plant closures — have
managed to secure a new collective agreement that contains
modest improvements.
The deal, hammered out virtually
minutes after a strike-lockout deadline of midnight
Tuesday following two days of mediation, builds on
the stunning 21-per-cent increase won three years ago
that made hopper feeders at the Windsor Star among
the best paid in the country. By the end of the contract
that expired Dec. 31, they were earning more than $16
an hour.
"There are no concessions whatsoever in this
agreement," notes David Esposti, the CWA Canada
staff representative who assisted the Windsor Typographical
Union's bargaining committee.
The three-year contract, with pay increases totalling
3.5 per cent, also has improvements in vision care,
boot and meal allowances, bereavement leave, severance
packages and pension contributions.
The three unions at the CanWest-owned newspaper, which
bargain as a joint council, ratified the agreement
in separate meetings on Sunday. The WTU, which represents
10 mailers and 40 hopper feeders (who run the machinery
that mechanically inserts flyers and special sections
into newspapers) were reluctant to accept the deal,
voting only 64 per cent in favour.
Members of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers
union (20 in the pressroom) and the Canadian Auto Workers,
which represents 150 employees in the remaining departments,
voted 100 and 97 per cent respectively to ratify.
"I think some of our members had high expectations
going in (to negotiations)," says Randy Morgan,
a shop steward and member of the WTU bargaining committee.
They are "not happy" with the meagre pay
raises, he says, but grudgingly accept that these are
tough economic times in the Windsor area.
Besides, adds Morgan, there
were no takebacks and "that
is definitely thanks to Dave (Esposti). He did a wonderful
job for us."