Talks between Chronicle Herald management, striking workers, break down
18 Herald employees were given layoff notices Saturday morning just hours after going on strike
The union representing striking Chronicle Herald workers says talks with management broke down Monday, even after a meeting with a provincially appointed mediator.
Workers picketed in front of the Chronicle Herald building on Joseph Howe Drive in Halifax Monday. Vehicles entering the building housing the newspaper's offices were being held up for a few minutes at a time.
Security officers were on-site and police officers in a pair of Halifax Regional Police cruisers were parked across the street monitoring the situation.
Parents dropping off their children at a daycare in the building were allowed in without delay.
"We're here to show our support for the striking Chronicle Herald workers," said Jeff Callaghan, the national director of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. "This is 2016 and some of the struggles that these workers are going through with this employer are just outrageous."
The newspaper issued 18 layoff notices just hours after the strike began, but suspended them on Sunday pending the resolution of the contract dispute. Four photographers, 12 editors and two page technicians received layoff notices.
The union and management were both in position for a strike or lockout as of midnight Friday. Members of the union walked off the job when the deadline hit.
The Herald's management has said it would impose a contract on newsroom staff if the union did not agree to wage cuts, layoffs, and changes to the pension plan and contract language.