2014.11.30 | CWA Canada Local 30130 | Halifax Typographical Union
Union sacrifice saves jobs, but Halifax newsroom hit hard
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at the Chronicle Herald
What started as the planned axing of 20 dedicated staff in the Halifax Chronicle Herald newsroom has ended with the forced layoff of just two, thanks to the sacrifice of union members.
However, the 17 job losses — about a quarter of the newsroom complement — will make it much harder to produce a quality newspaper and increase the workload on remaining journalists.
Members of the Halifax Typographical Union (HTU) voted Saturday to accept three concessions in order to save the jobs of three of their colleagues on the original layoff list.
The vote, which alters the collective agreement, increases staff pension contributions by 1.3 per cent, lowers the mileage rate for automobile use, and requires members to take a week of unpaid leave.
The concessions, combined with 13 staff taking buyouts or early retirement, and the departure of two non-union staff, brought the layoff number down to two.
HTU President Ingrid Bulmer said it’s about more than just saving jobs: “It’s about saving journalism.”
The larger battle lies ahead when the collective agreement expires about a year from now, she said.
Despite contract language that gives the HTU jurisdiction over newsroom jobs, the company has made no secret of its intention to outsource much of the work now performed by copy editors.
“The Chronicle Herald has long been a beacon of quality, independent local journalism and it’s sad to see that tradition threatened by these devastating cuts,” said CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon.
“It is in everyone's interests to keep a strong newsroom dedicated to quality journalism and we had hoped the company would consider other options to reduce costs before proceeding with such deep layoffs.”
O’Hanlon said he was proud of how the Halifax Local, which represents about 100 workers in editorial, composing and the press room, quickly rallied when the layoffs were announced in late October, and the way they stayed united.
“At least our members can put up a fight when journalism or good, local jobs are threatened,” he said. “Non-unionized workers are totally at the mercy of unscrupulous owners who can and do chop jobs at will.”
Members of HTU began a byline strike on Nov. 3 and three days later staged a 15-minute information picket outside the newspaper’s offices. The next day, they launched an online petition at change.org, which eventually garnered 560 supporters. That was followed by a Facebook page, Friends of the Chronicle Herald Newsroom, which is replete with lively discussions about local, award-winning journalism and allowed the HTU to engage with the newspaper’s readers.
When news of the layoffs first broke, it sparked controversy in the Atlantic province that values home-grown talent and celebrates excellence. Articles began appearing in other media outlets, such as The Coast, that deplored the ruthless cuts to local journalism.
Stephen Kimber, a journalism professor at the University of King’s College, told the Halifax Media Co-op that he realizes the newspaper is facing strong financial headwinds, but cutting jobs is not the answer.
“That’s a vicious cycle,” said Kimber. “You eliminate your best and brightest reporters, your young talent coming in with new energy and different points of view. As you continue to cut you become less relevant.”