Newsroom and advertising employees at the Toronto Star, Canada's largest newspaper by circulation, have given their union a mandate to call a strike as early as midnight if negotiations with parent company Torstar Corp. break down today.
Both sides were careful to suggest yesterday that the talks being mediated by retired Ontario Superior Court Judge George Adams could continue into next week if progress is made on several contentious issues. ...
Torstar said yesterday that it has no plans for a lockout if the talks fail but will continue publishing the paper if a strike happens.
Though no details were given, the Star would likely draw upon its Metroland newspapers throughout Ontario to fill pages.
"In the event of a disruption, we have a fully developed contingency plan to ensure that we will continue to publish a daily paper," said Bob Hepburn, spokesman for the Star.
Similarly, Starjournalists are believed to be preparing an Internet newspaper to compete with their employer's publication.
Ryerson University j-prof John Miller posted the following to CAJ-L today:
For anyone who wants to know about the new skillset that is required for journalists -- or the state of our replaceability -- I suggest looking at why Star employees voted 96 percent in favour of strike action (which could come as early as tomorrow):
The company is proposing new job descriptions for journalists -- everyone will be required to research and interview people and write stories, shoot video, shoot stills, record broadcast-quality audio tape, produce Flash and other graphics.
Two-way people will lose their 10 percent wage premium and their company cars.
Per-shift overtime would be eliminated. It would be replaced by weekly overtime, and the first 5 hours over the existing 35-hour week would be paid at straight time, not time and a half.
New hires would not be eligible for a pension.
The company could claw back merit pay.
No restrictions on freelance photographers or reporters.
This sure ain't Kansas anymore, is it?