New Canadian Guild Unit Could Help Put the Brakes on Newspaper Offshoring

Workers at Pagemasters, which provides editorial, layout and production services to newspapers, have joined the Canadian Media Guild, CWA/SCA. The unit has about 10 members now, but is expected to grow. Bargaining for a first contract is underway.

“This means that some that some of the work that newspapers would send to Bangalore and elsewhere will stay here in Canada and be covered by the Canadian Media Guild,” CMG President Lise Lareau said, crediting Staff Rep Kathy Viner with the initiative to organize the group.

TNG-CWA President Bernie Lunzer said while the union’s first goal will always be to keep good jobs from being outsourced or offshored, he praised CMG’s proactive organizing drive. “The reality of the digital future is that we won’t be able to save every job,” he said. “But we can make every effort to ensure that the work stays in union hands, and that’s exactly what CMG has done.”