2016.01.23 | CWA Canada Local 30130 | Halifax Typographical Union
Members of the Halifax Typographical Union have been fighting to defend good journalism at the Herald.
Halifax union forced into defensive strike at Herald
Company lays off 18 newsroom workers
The CWA Canada Local that represents 61 newsroom workers at The Chronicle Herald called a defensive strike at 12:01 this morning.
The Halifax Typographical Union (HTU) said in a news release it had no choice but to strike after the employer said it would impose working conditions contained in its final offer, which members had resoundingly rejected.
“Imposing regressive working conditions is an extremely provocative move and the Herald knew full well that it would result in a strike,” said CWA Canada staff representative David Wilson.
“In my 20 years of negotiating newspaper contracts in Canada, I’ve never seen an employer do this before,” he said.
The Herald couriered layoff notices to 18 staff early today, the legality of which is being analyzed by the union’s lawyers.
“It wasn’t on our radar that people would receive layoff notices while people were on strike,” HTU vice-president Frank Campbell told CBC News.
Among those receiving layoff notice was photographer Ingrid Bulmer, president of the HTU.
In the last hours before the strike-lockout deadline, the Herald contracted out its online work to a company in Ontario. Other work normally done by Nova Scotia journalists at the Herald will be done in New Brunswick under a deal with Irving-owned Brunswick News.
“Herald CEO Mark Lever has been preaching to readers about how important it is to create jobs here in Nova Scotia, but he can’t be bothered to negotiate with longtime, loyal employees, and instead sends their work to Ontario,” Wilson said.
Bulmer, one of the 18 who received a layoff notice, said in the news release that the strike move was defensive.
“We offered to negotiate with the Herald all night and all weekend if necessary if they didn’t impose conditions, but they rejected our offer,” she said.
“We didn’t want to strike the Herald, but they gave us no option,” Bulmer said. “We’re not going to stand by and watch our co-workers with more than 30 years of loyal service get the boot with lousy severance.”
She said the company wants to lay off the majority of its editing staff and push experienced, long-service editors into non-union jobs with lower pay.
Martin O’Hanlon, president of CWA Canada, said the company is “making a huge mistake. They could have accepted our concessions (offered during conciliation on Wednesday). Instead, in their arrogance and bull-headedness, they are threatening the very survival of the Herald.”
The union is asking Nova Scotians to help it stand up to the Herald’s union-busting bullying by suspending newspaper subscriptions and advertising.
For more information, contact:
David Wilson, CWA Canada staff rep, 613-850-5423
Ingrid Bulmer, HTU president, 902-210-3465
Frank Campbell, HTU vice-president, 902-497-0057