Chronicle Herald issues layoff notices to 20 newsroom staff

One of the last remaining independently owned newspapers in Canada issued layoff notices to 20 unionized newsroom staff on Friday.

The Chronicle Herald is also asking the union for more concessions, including deferring a two per cent pay increase that was supposed to come Nov. 21.

Ingrid Bulmer, president of the Halifax Typographical Union, said the 20 staff members got notices about the layoffs on Friday.

"We are hopeful that number can be significantly decreased during talks with the company over the coming weeks," she told CBC News.

"In our collective agreement, we get 45 days to discuss anything from early retirements, modified work weeks, anything that may help to decrease that number."

The company also wants to talk about pension costs and mileage rates with the union, said Bulmer.

"It's up to the membership," she said. "It's something we'd have to discuss and vote on."

Bulmer said cutting that many staff will impact a newsroom of about 75, while the company maintained it will still be the largest newsroom in Atlantic Canada.

"The mood is pretty grim. Getting 20 of your colleagues put on a layoff list doesn't really help with morale, so morale is low, as can be expected," Bulmer said.