By Jeremy Appel After two years without a contract, unionized staff at Canada’s National Observer have reached their first agreement with management, continuing a trend of journalists at new media outlets organizing their workplaces. The five-year contract offers immediate pay increases for most staff, a company-contributed pension plan, equipment and expense allowances, overtime compensation and Continue readingNew media unions gain ground, secure first contracts
media workers
By Chloe Rockarts On Tuesday, February 12, Buzzfeed workers in the United States voted to unionize. In Toronto, a majority of the ten BuzzFeed Canada workers filed for union certification with the Canadian Media Guild (CMG), a local of the Communications Workers of America. Media Workers Organize The Toronto announcement, which came at the same Continue readingOMG Buzzfeed is unionizing
By Frances Willick My Herald colleagues voted on August 10 to accept a deal after a year and a half on strike. For many — most, I dare say — this is little cause for celebration. Yes, it brings a much-needed resolution to this toxic situation. But the toll it has taken is deep. Unless you’ve been on Continue readingReflections on the Chronicle Herald strike
By Robert Devet The acquisition of 27 papers in four Atlantic provinces by the SaltWire Network Inc., a newly formed parent company of the Chronicle Herald, is bad news for readers and newsroom workers both. And it’s a low blow to the Chronicle Heraldworkers who have been walking the picket line for 16 months. Owner Continue readingBad for readers, bad for newsroom workers
By Scott Price In the early nineties, two TV stations (CKY\CKND) in Winnipeg, Manitoba locked out their workers. Both of these lockouts would start lengthy disputes – rare for the Canadian broadcasting industry. The two lockouts demonstrate that while workers in the Canadian broadcasting industry face similar issues as workers in other industries (wages, benefits, Continue reading“Machines can do a better job than you and this is what you get for asking questions”
by Errol Salamon Gawker Media’s editorial staff ratified their first union contract on March 1 with their collective bargaining representatives at the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). In addition to including important economic gains, the contract features innovations for workers at media startups that could set sector-wide standards. But digital media workers in the Continue readingDigital media workers are unionizing like it’s 1999
by Errol Salamon Workers at Vice Media are leading efforts to unionize digital media workplaces. These efforts have spread internationally from the United States to Canada and the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, Vice UK workers announced that they’re campaigning to unionize with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). In August 2015, Vice US editorial employees Continue readingVice Media unionization goes global
By Dan Darrah In the wake of a contract dispute unresolved by conciliation and bargaining, 61 workers at the Halifax-based Chronicle-Herald newspaper walked off the job late last Friday, mandated by an overwhelming 98.3 per cent in favour of strike vote. In negotiations prior, management was adamant in its position of a 17 per cent Continue readingHTU Striking for Jobs and Journalism
By Rebecca Rose, Canadian Freelance Union member and organizer The union representing journalists and photographers at the Chronicle Herald (the Halifax Typographical Union) and Herald management have reached an impasse in labour negotiations. Herald management recently filed a notice that gives them the option to lock out its unionized newsroom staff and it has recently Continue reading6 Reasons Freelancers Should Refuse Work From the Chronicle Herald During a Lockout
Thousands march in Montreal to protest Radio-Canada job cuts Nov. 17, 2014 Toronto Star MONTREAL—Supporters of CBC’s French-language service Radio-Canada have a message for the federal government: no more cuts. Thousands marched through downtown Montreal on Sunday as part of a series of protests across Quebec as well as in Moncton, N.B. Nicolas Bedard, who organized Continue readingR&F.ca Labour News Update – November 17, 2014
In our final installment of the Unifor Interview Series with union leaders, staff, and rank-and-file members, we speak with Gary Engler, Vice-President of Unifor Local 2000, the Media Union of BC. Gary also recently penned two articles at Rabble.ca, “Thoughts on Labour Day” and “Unifor and the potential rebirth of militant union activism.” He recently Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Gary Engler, Local 2000