TORONTO, July 6 /CNW/ - Globe and Mail members voted 85% today to ratify
a new, five-year collective agreement with their employer.
Of the 341 members who voted today, (75% of the 450 unionized Globe
members), 289 voted yes to accept the tentative deal worked out July 2 by the
union bargaining team. Another 52 voted no.
Unionized employees at the Globe are represented by the Communications,
Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 87-M and include editorial,
circulation and sales staff.
The new contract includes a two-year general wage freeze followed by
annual, general increases of 2, 2.5 and 2.5%, in a five-year deal expiring
June 30, 2014 and new employees will have to join a defined contribution
retirement plan instead of the existing defined benefit pension plan. But the
union was successful in preserving the defined benefit pension plan for
existing employees; stopping the lengthening of the work week; curtailing
restrictions on outside activities and the weakening of job security language.
Globe Unit Chair Sue Andrew said the union was sensitive to the
difficulties newspapers around the world are having with both the recession
and changing technologies and advertising trends. She was pleased a deal was
reached in this difficult climate without a strike. But she said politicians
and community leaders need to recognize the increasing trend toward weaker,
defined contribution pension plans and the troubles that will create for the
future.
"The defined benefit fight is a battle we can't fight alone," Andrew
said. "We need government and other major players to step up and either do
something to preserve defined benefit plans or come up with a better
government pension plan."
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 87-M President Brad
Honywill echoed Andrew's comments.
"The last thing we needed in the newspaper sector was a strike or a
lockout so I'm happy that the two sides were able to adapt to the changing
economic scene without having to resort to a labour conflict," Honywill said.
For further information: Brad Honywill, President, CEP Local 87-M
(Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild), W: (416) 461-2461, ext. 7, C: (905)
334-9259, Long Distance Toll Free: 1-800-463-5797, ext 7
