Media

TORONTO—Unifor is pleased to see a path forward to distribute Google’s $100 million annual contribution to Canada’s news businesses, after the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced Monday it was granting Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act (ONA).

World News Day on September 28 is a global initiative that spotlights the role journalists play in providing trustworthy news and information. 

This year it will also draw awareness to the turmoil and threats facing the industry, which undermine citizens and democracy all over the world. 

Every year, our union marks World News Day because we believe it is impossible to improve the conditions of work, and the conditions of the world, without trusted news sources.

Unifor members at CTV Ottawa have ratified a new three-year deal with their employer this week.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for fighting for the needs of our members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“We all know the state the media sector is in and every contract our union bargains to strengthen wages and create more job security for journalists and media workers helps make their lives more stable.”

ST. JOHN’S—Unifor continues to advocate for its members and their work at The Telegram in St. John’s as Postmedia moves through the process to purchase most of the assets of The Telegram’s parent company, SaltWire Network, Inc.

TORONTO – Unifor is deeply concerned after Corus Entertainment Inc. – which owns Global News – announced job cuts that will affect Unifor media workers and journalists across the country.

“Every time an announcement like this comes in the media sector, it’s both heartbreaking and boils my blood,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

TORONTO—Unifor supports the Ontario government’s announcement today that it will direct key provincial agencies to ensure at least 25% of their ad spends will go to Ontario publishers, a move that encourages saving local news.

“We all know that community, regional and national news publishers have been facing and struggling with declining ad sales,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

TORONTO – Unifor is deeply concerned and outraged that Bell Media has once again announced restructuring plans, this time, giving notice to close to 50 Unifor media workers.

“This is a corporation that has made billions of profits at the end of last year and they continue to carry on with their profit-over-people principle,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“This is yet another blow to journalism and democracy and a step towards bigger swaths of news deserts across Canada.”

Unifor representatives attended the 40th anniversary memorial of the tragedy at the Falconbridge mine in Sudbury, Ontario and presented Mine Mill Local 598 with a special award to honour their commitment to health and safety.