2016.04.27 | NEWS RELEASE

Lies and Damned Lies: Mark Lever and the Herald strike

HALIFAX — We largely ignore the fiction coming out of the Chronicle Herald these days, but the latest outrageous piece of propaganda from company CEO Mark Lever demands a response.

In an April 22 letter to advertisers, Mark had the audacity to claim that the Herald is “doing everything in our power, short of capitulating to the union’s threats and intimidation, to reach a fair and reasonable agreement.”

Let me be blunt: that is a damned lie.

It is appalling to see the head of a once-respected daily newspaper show such disregard for the truth. The Herald is doing nothing to reach a fair deal.

Here are the facts:

The company has not budged one iota from its original concession demands, which include laying off nearly a third of the newsroom, wage cuts, a longer work week, freezing the company pension plan, and demanding the right to lay off whomever it wants, whenever it wants, regardless of years of service with the company.
In contrast, the union has offered concessions, including an across-the-board five-per-cent wage cut.
Most recently, the union tried to kick-start negotiations by offering to compromise even further on the company's key demands. The company refused to return to the bargaining table, insisting the union agree in advance to accept the concessions. That is not how negotiations work. Both sides must compromise to get a deal.
I personally wrote to Herald owner Sarah Dennis proposing a route to a settlement and urging a return to bargaining. She refused.
The Herald is busy hiring replacement workers it considers permanent – not exactly the behaviour of a company that plans to bring back its long-time staff.

Let’s be clear about another thing: Newsroom staffers don’t want to hurt the Herald or advertisers, but it’s the only way they can fight back. They would much rather be back at work putting out a product we can all be proud of and working with the company to ensure future success.

It’s baffling why the Herald wants to hurt its brand and revenue in a costly, destructive and unnecessary battle with its own employees, especially at a time when it claims to be facing financial hardship. The company doesn’t need a war to get what it needs, it just has to negotiate and compromise a bit.

We are very concerned that Mark Lever is leading the Herald down a self-destructive path in a misguided effort to break the union – a union that is willing to work with the company to achieve savings and ensure its long-term viability.

Mark talks a good game, but his business track record is a very sorry one. Just ask the unlucky investors in his ill-fated tennis club (his second failed venture).

Mark is in over his head – again – but this time he is jeopardizing the future of an important provincial institution.

Martin O’Hanlon
President, CWA Canada

About CWA Canada

CWA Canada represents about 6,000 workers at companies such as the CBC, The Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters and many Postmedia publications.

For interviews or more information, contact:

Martin O'Hanlon
613-820-8460
mohanlon@cwa-scacanada.ca