Chronicle Herald union says company refused call back to bargaining table

The union that represents striking Chronicle Herald workers says the paper's management has refused to return to the bargaining table.

In a news release issued Friday night, theHalifax Typographical Unionsaidmanagement"didn't feel the union was ready to make 'necessary' concessions."

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The union,which represents reporters, editors, photographers, columnists and support staff,saidit tried to contact the paper througha conciliator.Workers have been on strike for seven weeks.

CBC News contacted Chronicle Herald management for comment Saturday, but did not receivean immediate response.

Morale still 'prettystrong'

The union saidthey offered to agree to a five per cent wage cut, a cap on severance pay, reduced mileage rates and fewer vacation days.

The union's release saidmanagement wants to make 1,200 changes that would "totally rewrite and gut the existing collective agreement" including introducing a longer work week, reducing severance provisionsand "the elimination of any job security."

The union says sincethe strike started two employees have left the paper to work elsewhere.

"I don't think that's uncommon in strikes or work stoppages. It may have been jobs they were looking at before ... it might have more to say about the work environment that existed before," said Frank Campbell, the union's vice president.

Union wants to keeppressure on

"Morale for the most part seems pretty strong. People are obviously getting somewhat tired of walking the picket line but people are holding together and we still have a lot of resolve," he said.

Saturday Campbell was inTrurohanding out leaflets about the labour dispute.

Campbell says the union will continue to put pressure on advertisers and Chronicle Herald subscribers to drop the paper until employees get back to work.

The CBC's Canadian Media Guild belongs to the same parent union, CWA Canada.