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Members of the Halifax Typographical Union overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action this past weekend. The HTU said 98.3 percent of members voted in favour, with only one vote against and one not present. The union represents 61 newsroom employees at the Chronicle Herald.
Two days have now been set aside this week for last-ditch negotiations to try and stave-off a work stoppage. If a new collective agreement can’t be reached, Canada’s largest independently-owned newspaper will be on strike come Saturday.
The Herald has already filed to allow the paper to lock out newsroom staff with 48 hours notice. Reporters, photographers and editors have been asked to return company equipment like cameras, computers and cell phones by the end of the week. Staff bylines have also been removed “indefinitely,” and freelance journalists have been contracted by the Herald to replace reporters during a work stoppage.
On the same day as the strike vote, an open letter by Herald CEO Mark Lever was published in his newspaper claiming the current union contract is “unsustainable.”
An open letter from @chronicleherald president and CEO Mark Lever on the labour situation here. pic.twitter.com/aEhDnjCzCZ
— Frances Willick (@fwillick) January 16, 2016
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This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2016.
Strike away. It will not change the facts; it only throws into question the true reason why you do your jobs – money.
So, work more, for less, because…..why? I think most people do their jobs in exchange for some sort of currency. Maybe I’m wrong?
I don’t think anyone under the age of 65 will notice.
Well no Kakera, I didn’t say that. Look at it this way: you have 3 kids and 2 cookies. There are no more cookies coming. All the kids want a full cookie. You explain you only have two cookies which they must share but the kids begin screaming unreasonably. Now does it make sense? If not, you’re better off studying basic economics.
both sides face declining ad revenue, its a tough call. I think all should accept the fact that the days of print media are numbered. There will be a time when there will not be a printed version of the Herald. Not certain when, but it is coming. Both sides need to accept this new challenge and work together. I hope for the sake of the younger staffers that the older ones are just holding out because they do not care.