Talks between the Chronicle Herald newspaper and the union representing striking newsroom employees have broken down.
A news release from the Halifax Typograhpical Union (HTU) and CWA Canada sent to media on Monday afternoon says the talks broke down when the company insisted on moving senior unionized editors to a non-union production centre.
READ MORE: Chronicle Herald suspends layoff notices to staff
The release says after a year the editors would earn $20,000 to $30,000 less annually.
The Chronicle Herald also sent a news release confirming that that talks broke off Monday, re-iterating its position of financial difficulties.
Nancy Cook, vice-president of administration at the newspaper, said the company has offered to remove language regarding the “contracting out” of positions if the union would accept a production centre similar to those of newspapers in produced in Toronto and New Brunswick.
The HTU represents 61 newsroom employees, who have been on strike since Friday at midnight.
On Saturday morning, 18 photographers, editors and newsroom support staff were handed layoff notices, which the Chronicle Herald later rescinded.
The company has said it wants to reduce wages, lengthen working hours, alter future pension benefits and lay off up to 18 workers to cope with economic challenges that have beset North America’s newspaper industry.
With files from Natasha Pace and The Canadian Press
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