As Postmedia moves forward with the purchase of most of SaltWire Network, Inc.’s assets, Unifor is standing firm in its support of workers at The Telegram in St. John’s, it said.
The union, which represents a variety of employees at the newspaper, has voiced significant concerns about the ongoing Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings, particularly how they might impact the future of local news and job security in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This is an extremely stressful process for those whose livelihoods are on the line,” said Jennifer Murray, Unifor’s Atlantic Regional Director. “CCAA proceedings are not friendly to workers, and many are sidelined in this process, unable to participate in decisions that will shape their futures.”
Unifor first responded to SaltWire’s CCAA filing in March, underscoring the critical role that locally owned news networks play in Atlantic Canada. The union is particularly concerned about the future of the wide-format printing press operation on Austin Street, which has been excluded from Postmedia’s purchase agreement. The press, the last of its kind in the province, is seen as vital for the continuation of print media in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Unifor’s legal counsel raised this issue during court proceedings, highlighting the uncertainty created by the omission of the Austin Street facility from the sale. The union emphasized that the future of print media in the region could be at risk if the operation is not sustained.
“To every extent possible, we are committed to protecting members’ jobs, benefits, and union rights,” Murray stated. She stressed the importance of printed news in an era where online content is increasingly manipulated, noting that “accessible, local content is vital to the cultural, social, and economic wellbeing of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and essential to our democracy.”
During the court proceedings, Unifor did not agree to any concessions affecting the 37 members of Local 441-G employed at The Telegram as multimedia reporters, photographers, printing press operators, and in the advertising and business departments.
The union has long been a defender of fact-based journalism in Canada, launching its Media Action Plan in 2016 to combat the decline of local news and to address the rising harassment faced by media workers.
As Canada’s largest private-sector union, Unifor represents 320,000 workers across the economy.