The union representing employees at the Cowichan Valley Citizen newspaper says bargaining with Black Press has broken down and two employees have resigned amid the labour dispute.
In a statement, the Victoria-Vancouver Island Newspaper Guild said it presented Black Press with a compromise last month and withdrew several proposals related to benefits, mileage and cellphone allowances.
The union said its revised offer included a two per cent wage increase for sales staff, along with a one-time $750 payment in lieu of retroactive pay, and a targeted wage adjustment for the newspaper’s sole circulation employee, along with a $750 payment.
The union said Black Press rejected the proposal, instead offering sales staff a one-time $1,000 lump-sum payment and no wage increases for current sales employees.
“The goal was simple: find a path to settlement,” said Karen Sparks, president of VVING. “We moved substantially toward the Company. What we proposed was measured, affordable, and focused on the workers who have fallen furthest behind.”
Black Press has previously disputed the union’s characterization of its wage proposals.
The union says one sales employee and the newspaper’s lone circulation employee have resigned, citing pay and working conditions.
The union says its members voted unanimously in favour of strike action on May 15, but continued to bargain and sought mediation to avoid a labour dispute. The company declined to participate in mediation, according to the union.
The union issued strike notice effective Aug. 13 and says it has since engaged in limited strike action while remaining available to return to the bargaining table.
The union says it remains willing to return to the bargaining table.
