Postmedia printing plant’s 80 workers officially unionized

TORONTO – The 80 workers at Postmedia’s printing plant in Toronto are now officially unionized after a large majority — 48 to 18 — voted to join the Canadian Media Guild (CWA Canada Local 30213).

The Ontario Labour Relations Board approved an application for union certification today.

The employees at the facility on Islington Avenue, all of whom will be in one bargaining unit, say they look forward to being in a union so that they can finally have job security, a say in decisions that impact their work lives, fair standards for overtime, scheduling, and sick days, and decent pay that reflects the cost of living in the Toronto area.

The workers in the press room, reel room and distribution centre at the facility say they have endured years of cuts to pay, hours, bonuses, vacation, and benefits. The last straw came during the pandemic when, even though they were deemed essential, the company cut their wages once again, and didn’t do enough to ensure their safety.

The filing is part of a recent wave of unionization in the North American media industry.

CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon welcomed the workers, saying they deserve much better from Postmedia.

“While Postmedia has been paying millions a year to its top executives and tens of millions to its hedge fund owners/lenders, the people that do the real work have been struggling to get by,” O’Hanlon said. “That’s simply not fair and it’s time to change things. These workers deserve a real voice in their workplace and the power to negotiate decent wages and working conditions.”

CMG National President Carmel Smyth said the union looks forward to helping all media workers improve their working conditions particularly during these exceptionally challenging times.

CWA Canada is the country’s only all-media union, representing 6,000 workers, including at the CBC, The Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters, VICE Canada, and newspapers coast to coast, including several Postmedia publications.