Postmedia demands concessions from workers: Unifor
Workers at the Windsor Star newspaper in Ontario gave their bargaining committees a strike mandate as they try to reach a new collective agreement with the employer, Postmedia.
On Jan. 28, unionized workers voted 97 per cent in support of strike action, said the union, Unifor.
“This employer has tabled huge concessions including reduced benefits, weaker pensions, cuts to vacation entitlement and elimination of retiree benefits,” said Julie Kotsis, Unifor chair of the joint council, which represents members of Unifor locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America, Canada (CWA), Local 30553.
The joint council representing workers of the two unions began negotiations with the employer in Oct. 2016. The most recent five days of bargaining did not result in an agreement. The collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2016, said the union.
Postmedia Network — the nation’s largest newspaper publisher — said the workers must accept concessions, blaming ongoing revenue declines, according to Unifor.
Windsor Star workers have only received a one per cent increase in five years, while CEO Paul Godfrey received a five per cent raise to $1.7 million in 2017, said the union.
Postmedia has slashed 57 per cent of its workforce since incorporating in 2010, said Unifor.
