Globe and Mail workers will go on strike at midnight unless an agreement is reached with the newspaper’s management to increase wages and improve diversity and gender equality in the newsroom.
In an email obtained by Star, union representatives told employees that their members from the Globe’s editorial, advertising and operations departments had voted 89 percent to initiate a labor action if the deadlock with management continues. after September 16.
The union had never gone on strike before, but representatives from Unifor Local 87-M told employees and contract workers Saturday that it would attack the picket lines if key demands are not met.
“We are ready to leave not just one issue, but many,” wrote the representatives.
According to union representatives, the Globe has adopted stronger disciplinary tools to speed up layoffs and job transfers, and has refused to raise general wages even to match the rate of inflation.
The union also noted that management refuses to “acknowledge or remedy” structural pay gaps among editorial employees.
“Despite internal commitments to improve diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace, The Globe refuses to commit to binding goals to improve the composition of its workforce, from new hires to room leadership. writing at all levels, ”the union wrote to employees.
“The Globe has also rejected proposals for greater accountability and transparency, whether internal or public, in its hiring and payment practices.”
In an email sent to the Globe’s self-employed and contract workers, the union asked that non-union members consider a temporary boycott of any management job or assignment.
“The key to The Globe’s success is the talent behind its headlines, reports, photos, illustrations, data, videos, audio – everything that is needed to produce and support world-class journalism,” union representatives wrote.
“We believe we have significant influence on our own as employees, but the support of the self-employed community would add more weight to any employment action we take.”
In the event of a strike, the union will operate its own news website, called “Globe Nation,” until an agreement is reached with management.
“We know that there are challenges in the industry, but The Globe and Mail is in a more privileged position than most media organizations, with a healthy subscriber base, diversified sources of income and the support of its owners, one of the richest families in Canada, ”The union wrote to employees.
The Star has reached out to the Globe for comment.
Reference-www.thestar.com