J-Topics
Oct 01, 2009
- Posted by Deborah
Jones
Some reaction to the boycott by independent writers against Transcontinental is dribbling in. Slowly, cautiously, too often anonymously ... geez writers are a timid breed...
Sep 30, 2009
- Posted by Deborah
Jones
It's about time that independent writers got our act together, and if it takes a boycott of Canadian Living, More, Elle Canada, Homemakers, and Vancouver Magazine to protest Transcontinental's odious new contract, so be it.
More than a dozen organizations of Canadian writers "are calling on the thousands of writers they represent to not write for any publications owned by Transcontinental Media, effective immediately," said a press release.
Can a boycott hold up against the pressure of thousands of writers eagerly lined up hoping for a shot of the action -- and willing to risk their own skins to undermine efforts by professional writers to improve everyone's lot? I wouldn't bet on it -- writers are just as naive, uninformed and unprincipled as the general population. There is no "strike" fund for freelance writers. But I still support the boycott, and I ask that you do as well.
What's really needed, imo, are changes to Canada's anti-trust laws to give them teeth -- but that might be even harder to push through than a boycott. Even the most ardent capitalists agree that free markets are no longer "free" when monopolies take over -- and Canadian media is arguably controlled by a collection of mini-monopolies that stifle the free enterprise of competitors, as well as of entrepreneurial writers.
Click "more" to read the full press release. Here is a link to the astonishing number of publications owned by Transcontinental.
More than a dozen organizations of Canadian writers "are calling on the thousands of writers they represent to not write for any publications owned by Transcontinental Media, effective immediately," said a press release.
Can a boycott hold up against the pressure of thousands of writers eagerly lined up hoping for a shot of the action -- and willing to risk their own skins to undermine efforts by professional writers to improve everyone's lot? I wouldn't bet on it -- writers are just as naive, uninformed and unprincipled as the general population. There is no "strike" fund for freelance writers. But I still support the boycott, and I ask that you do as well.
What's really needed, imo, are changes to Canada's anti-trust laws to give them teeth -- but that might be even harder to push through than a boycott. Even the most ardent capitalists agree that free markets are no longer "free" when monopolies take over -- and Canadian media is arguably controlled by a collection of mini-monopolies that stifle the free enterprise of competitors, as well as of entrepreneurial writers.
Click "more" to read the full press release. Here is a link to the astonishing number of publications owned by Transcontinental.
Jul 17, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
The Canadian Freelance Union (CFU) has received a three-year commitment
from the national Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of
Canada (CEP), CFU interim president Michael OReilly has announced. The CFU Bulletin stated...
Jul 08, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
The Toronto Star's
classified advertising work is being outsourced to a Buffalo-based
company and 27 unionized jobs will be cut, according to the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada that represents
the employees. Maureen Dawson, who chairs the Star unit of the Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild (SONG), said in a news release...
Jul 06, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
A strike has been averted at The Globe and Mail, as employees voted in favour of accepting the newspaper company's contract offer. Of the 337 members who voted on July 6...
Jun 29, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
With 292 ballots cast, unionized Globe and Mail employees voted 89 per cent against accepting the latest contract offer from the newspaper's management. The current contract expires at midnight on June 30 and last week union members voted 97 per cent in favour of authorizing a strike if an agreement isn't reached. According to...
Jun 26, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
With the current employee contract set to expire early next week,
contract talks between the newspaper's management and the union
representing staffers have broken down, the Canadian Press reports. The contract expires...
Jun 19, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
Six staffers at New Brunswick's only French-language daily newspaper, L'Acadie Nouvelle, have been let go. According to a CBC report...
May 29, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
CBC English Services has laid off 158 people this week, as the
broadcaster sent out a round of "redundancy notices" to employees.
According to the Canadian Media Guild (CMG), about 100 contract employees have not had their contracts renewed, 19 job vacancies will not be filled and 158 permanent employees have been laid off. The CMG says the jobs lost (including retirement, contract positions and layoffs) by location are...
According to the Canadian Media Guild (CMG), about 100 contract employees have not had their contracts renewed, 19 job vacancies will not be filled and 158 permanent employees have been laid off. The CMG says the jobs lost (including retirement, contract positions and layoffs) by location are...
May 26, 2009
- Posted by Regan
Ray
There are two ways to cut newsroom budgets: buy out expensive veterans, or lay off fresh blood. Neither is a great option, as Bethany Horne reports.
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