[mobglob-discuss] Send A Message To The Victoria Times Colonist's Publisher

[Gordon Flett]

250 workers at the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper have been on strike
against the company since Sept. 3rd. The company is demanding major
concessions, including a 50% decrease in wages in one department under a
two-tier wage system. There were no talks since the strike began, as the
newspaper's negotiators refused to reply to the Victoria Joint Council
Of Newspaper Unions' last proposal. Talks finally resumed on Oct. 1st,
but broke off again on Oct. 4th with the company failing to negotiate
seriously and walking away from the table. 

 The newspaper's publisher, Alan Allnutt, said on a radio phone-in show
that yes, the company is profitable, but the profit is sent to the
parent company, CanWest Global in Winnipeg. He is saying what this
strike is about and it is very simple: The company wants their employees
to sacrifice wages, benefits and their job security so that more money
can be taken out of Victoria and sent to Winnipeg. People can help these
workers by emailing Mr. Allnutt at mailto:aallnutt at times-colonist.com ,
and asking or demanding that he and the Times Colonist get back to
serious negotiations with their employees who earn them their wealth.
The Times Colonist can send their profits to Winnipeg, but the workers
will spend their wages in their community, where it belongs.