Union strategy aims to thwart massive
layoff in Gazette circulation department
Montreal Newspaper Guild | CWA Canada
Local 30111
The bargaining-layoff drama unfolding
at The Gazette resembles a chess match in which the
Montreal Newspaper Guild (MNG) continues to make defensive
moves to check company plans to get rid of 45 employees
next month.
Even while negotiating a new collective
agreement for 57 members who work in classifieds, the
MNG almost simultaneously sought an injunction against
the unprecedented massive layoff in Reader Sales & Service
(RSS), filed unfair labour practise charges against
management, and officially requested a merger of three
bargaining units, including RSS, whose contracts expire
on Sunday.
David Wilson, the CWA Canada staff representative
who has been assisting the Local, says it is abundantly
clear that management at the CanWest-owned daily newspaper
has no intention of engaging in serious bargaining
to renew collective agreements with the RSS, editorial
and advertising departments.
MNG president Mona Leroux has
said the employer "wants
to bargain only with RSS" in a "divide-and-conquer" strategy
because "they want their 45 layoffs." The
plan, to export the work to a non-union CanWest call
centre in Winnipeg, is the subject of a grievance filed
by the union because it is a clear violation of Guild
contracts at The Gazette.
There are fears that the company will lock out the
RSS workers on June 6, when it is legally able to do
so. The other two bargaining units would not be in
a strike/lockout position until late July.
Conciliation on Friday for
the three bargaining units was "a day full of frustration and the union didn't
even have the opportunity to present proposals to the
employer," says Wilson. Rather, management produced
its offer and demanded the union put it to a vote of
the membership.
On Monday, an arbitrator will consider the Guild's
request for a safeguard order (injunction) to prevent
the layoffs scheduled for June 13. If the order is
granted, the company would not be able to lay off the
RSS employees or contract-out their work until an arbitrator
has ruled on the legality of the move.
Wilson says that, given the fact the union has applied
for merger of the three bargaining units, there is
a possibility Quebec's labour ministry would suspend
negotiations and freeze working conditions until that
application is dealt with. The freeze could happen
as early as next week, says Wilson.
The MNG has also filed unfair labour practice charges
against The Gazette over management's attempts to bargain
directly with its members who work in RSS. There are
a number of instances of bad faith added to the charge,
which is to be heard on June 5, says Wilson.
Members who work in classifieds last week unanimously
ratified a three-year agreement that is retroactive
to Jan. 1. Wilson says the union made no concessions
during five bargaining days and one day of conciliation.
This is a second contract for workers in classifieds,
the first one having been imposed by an arbitrator
three years after the unit was certified. The new agreement,
says Wilson, introduces wage scales to the classifieds
department.
Workers not at the top rate will receive salary increases
of between two and five per cent in the first year,
with many getting another four per cent at the end
of this year.
Increases in the second and third years of the agreement
will depend on the outcome of bargaining for the other
three units, says Wilson.