Letter to the prime minister’s office

May 27, 2020

The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing on behalf of CWA Canada and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to urge the federal government to make digital companies such as Facebook and Google share advertising revenue with Canadian content providers.

These two companies control over 80 per cent of Canada’s $6-billion online advertising market, yet they pay no taxes and they pay nothing for the content they use. For far too long, they have been earning money by linking to stories from Canadian news companies without compensation. It is simply not fair. They should be paying for copyrighted content.

Even more troubling is the fact that, as these companies have raked in tens of billions of dollars over the years, thousands of Canadian media workers have been laid off and hundreds of Canadian publications have closed. It’s bad for journalism, bad for local communities, and bad for our democracy.

We call on your government to follow the lead of Australia and France, which are set to make digital companies pay for content use.

Such action is all the more vital as many Canadian news companies, which have long struggled with ad revenue declines, are now fighting for their survival amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

We thank you for your government’s support for the news industry during this pandemic, and for the coming tax measures under the journalism support package, but we need to solve the ad revenue problem for the long-term health of the industry.

CWA Canada is the country’s only all-media union, representing about 6,000 workers in print, digital and broadcasting operations, including the CBC, The Canadian Press, and newspapers coast to coast.

The IFJ is the world’s largest organization of journalists, representing 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries.

Sincerely,

Martin O’Hanlon

President, CWA Canada

The Media Union

 

 

Posted in CWA |

World Press Freedom Day Message from CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon

May 3, 2020

We mark World Press Freedom Day this year in the most unusual of circumstances: a worldwide pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of people, crippled economies, and challenged democracies.

We must start by mourning the media workers who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 and paying tribute to those who continue to provide vital news and information in this time of pandemic, many risking their own health to do so.

Now, more than ever, it is critical that people get reliable news about what’s really happening and how best to get through this crisis.

At CWA Canada, we have been working relentlessly to ensure employers protect the health of workers, and to defend our collective agreements so that our members have some financial security, especially those who have been temporarily laid off or had their hours cut.

At the same time, we recognize that employers are struggling to deal with plunging revenues and we have urged the federal government to do even more to provide relief. We also pushed successfully for federal aid for freelancers, temps, contract and other precarious workers.

The current crisis has only exacerbated an already troubling situation with freedom of expression under serious threat around the globe.

In a day and age when billions of people get their news from social media, it is vital that journalists and trusted news sources are protected and promoted.

There are five main ways in which governments and others attack freedom of the press: violence and intimidation, blocking internet access and communication, internet surveillance, legislation limiting free speech, and online harassment.

So what can we do about it?

We can launch public pressure campaigns. Such campaigns can yield great results. We must publicly call out governments and bad actors to embarrass them into behaving better. We need to rally the public to hold government to account and that requires educating people.

We can use social media against itself. We can use social media to educate and rally the public and expand the civic space by sharing information about fake news, disinformation, and hate, while promoting trusted, reliable news sources.

We can impose sanctions against bad actors. It is vital that progressive, responsible governments speak out publicly whenever freedom of expression is under attack, that they pressure offenders diplomatically to do better, and punish the worst offenders through economic sanctions if necessary. And those sanctions should be on specific officials, not just governments. Block key politicians and officials from travelling abroad and seize their foreign assets and see how quickly things change.

We will continue the fight for press freedom in 2020. It’s a fight we can’t afford to lose.

As journalism goes, so goes democracy.

Postmedia pay cut would be ‘tough sell’ for unions

2020.04.28

Postmedia pay cut would be ‘tough sell’ for unions

Leaders of CWA Canada Locals at newspapers in three provinces will hold a conference call tonight to decide their response to Postmedia’s moves to cut labour costs during the public health crisis.

The company announced today that it will lay off 50 sales people, temporarily cut pay for employees, and permanently close 15 of its 95 community newspapers. The cuts do not affect any of the media union’s 281 members who work at nine of Postmedia’s 15 daily newspapers.

CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon said there was a significant error in the announcement by Postmedia CEO Andrew MacLeod. 

“He stated that all employees earning over $60,000 will be subject to a temporary pay reduction. In fact, unionized staff cannot be forced to take a pay reduction; that would have to be agreed to by the union,” O’Hanlon said.

“We will discuss the company’s statement and its request for a five-per-cent temporary pay cut. But it’s a tough sell given that Postmedia has been funnelling tens of millions of dollars to its hedge fund owners and paying millions in executive salaries and bonuses. Last year alone, it paid its top five executives a whopping $7.4 million while laying off staff and freezing worker salaries.”

CWA Canada has Locals at Postmedia papers in Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Kingston, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Regina.

MacLeod, whose total compensation last year was $2.4 million, said in early April that he would take a 30-per-cent cut to the $820,000 salary portion of that. Other executives and those in management ranks will see salary reductions ranging from eight to 20 per cent.

Postmedia is eligible for the 75-per-cent Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which is intended to avert layoffs or to push employers to recall workers. It is retroactive to March 15 and provides up to $847 a week per employee.

The company will also be able to access labour tax credits under the $595-million journalism support fund, among other government support programs.

MacLeod said today: “While we are very grateful for these programs, no subsidy can offset the huge declines in revenues our industry is experiencing” due to the “unprecedented tidal forces” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertising revenues at already-beleaguered newspapers across the country plummeted as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded and forced the shutdown of non-essential businesses, sporting and cultural events. Newspapers are heavily dependent on advertising from those sectors of a local economy.

On April 11, Postmedia reported a loss of just over $5 million in its second quarter ending Feb. 29, two weeks before the country headed into lockdown. That was a drop of 7.5 per cent compared with last year. Total revenue for the quarter was $145.7 million, with $110.8 million of that from print advertising and circulation; $28.2 million was derived from its digital businesses.

 

Letter from Martin O’Hanlon

March 30, 2020

 

Dear fellow CWA Canada members,

Let me start with some good news: the federal government announced today that news companies are eligible for a 75% wage subsidy to help cope with the COVID-19 crisis – exactly the help we asked for in a letter to the feds on Friday. We applaud the government for its quick action.

Combined with government ad buys in local papers, that should largely ease the financial burden on our employers. We are already calling on employers that have laid off staff and cut hours to return to full operation.

The bigger issue continues to be health. We have just been informed of the first positive case of COVID-19 at a workplace where we have members – the Windsor Star. While the person affected is not a member, he works near our members and has been in contact with at least one. The workplace has been shut down for a couple of days to be disinfected. We are urging the company to allow staff who have been in contact with the infected employee to self-quarantine at home with full pay.

We want to work co-operatively with our employers but it is also our legal and moral responsibility to ensure that our members are protected. Rest assured that we are communicating with our employers to ensure your health – and finances – are looked after.

If you feel your workplace is not observing proper health protocols, if you are not being compensated properly, or if you have any questions, please contact your Local president or designate immediately. We at the national union will provide any advice, resources and support needed.

In the meantime, continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands regularly, avoid travel, and check the Health Canada website for updates on the spread and how to protect yourself: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

If you develop symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath), avoid contact with others, phone your doctor’s office, and advise your employer and Local president.

In solidarity,

Martin

 

Martin O’Hanlon

President, CWA Canada

The Media Union