-----Original Message----- From: CONNIE FOGAL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, 25 May 1998 04:07 Subject: Defense against Conrad Black- St. Catharines Standard Strike: (Please Forward Widely) >Subject: : St. Catharines Standard Strike: Day 1 (Please Forward Widely) > >Fellow Workers, > CEP Local 87-M (Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild) is >now on strike against the St. Catharines Standard. This is a first contract >strike by the newspaper's newsroom employees. This is also the first strike >against the 107 year-old St. Catharines Standard which was recently purchased >by Conrad Black's Southam Inc. newspaper chain. > Talks broke off last night and there is no indication they are about to >resume soon. Talks broke down over a number of issues including management's >demands for a two-tier wage structure and for the elimination of the >photography department. Management wants new hires to start at a much lower >pay rate and they want reporters to do the work of the photography department. >A strike vote took place yesterday following three days of mediation and the >union recieved an 80% strike mandate even though scabs and student employees >cast votes. > The striker's spirits are high. In addition to picketing the employer's >offices they have produced boycott stickers and post cards for subscribers to >send in to cancel their subscriptions to the St. Catharines Standard until the >labour dispute is resolved. The strikers are already at work producing the >first issue of their own newspaper The Independent. The first issue will hit >the streets on Sunday May 31. > Management is continuing to publish the St. Catharines Standard using >scab labour. The scabs will be sending their work into the employer via >faxes and e-mail (electronic scabbing). Vince Rice of CEP Local 87-M says >that the union is prepared to return to the negotiating table at any time but >the employer is not. A lengthy strike is likely. > CEP Local 87-M has recieved strong backing from both the St. Catharines >and District Labour Council and the CAW. Further messages of support and >solidarity are strongly encouraged. These can be directed to the following: > > e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > fax: (905) 641-2821 > tel. (905) 641-0856 > >Information about subscriptions to The Independent is available at the above- >mentioned telephone number. > Finally, it should be noted that a USA Today boycott button is on >display in the strikers' offices and Detroit's locked out newspaper workers >are watching the situation at the St. Catharines Standard with great interest. > > The World Is Our Picket Line! > Bruce Allen > >P.S. Yet another newspaper strike may follow in Hamilton, Ontario next >month. A > June 22 strike deadline has been set for the Hamilton Spectator. > > > > >CONNIE FOGAL >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >
