2014.07.22 | CWA Canada Local 30232 | Northern Ontario Newspaper Guild
Deal at Sudbury Star sees modest increases
Employees at the Sudbury Star have ratified a new collective agreement that contains modest wage increases and several improvements.
Bob Chartrand, president of the Northern Ontario Newspaper Guild, says negotiations took place over four days with the assistance of CWA Canada staff rep David Esposti.
The four-year deal includes a wage freeze for this year, followed by annual increases of 1.0, 1.5 and 1.5 per cent; a bump in mileage to 50 cents; monthly cell phone allowance jumps to $50; employer-paid group RRSP rises to $13 per shift; and severance increases to 52 weeks.
The contract with the Quebecor-owned Sun Media newspaper also introduces a commission plan for new advertising sales reps with a base rate of $350 a week plus 18 per cent of all revenue produced, with no cap. Existing employees have the option of joining the plan or staying with the regular salary/commission system.
The Sudbury Local has been decimated by Sun Media’s ongoing practice of centralizing key functions such as circulation and printing. Membership has plummeted from more than 120 to 15 as departments were closed and jobs outsourced.
Chartrand, 55, whose job in circulation was axed in April after 31 years at the newspaper, will continue as president of the Local until the end of this year.