Vol. 74/No. 7      February 22, 2010

The artists were appreciated as well because by taking on Quebecor Media—the owners of the Journal de Montréal—they were taking on the biggest player in the media industry in Quebec and thereby potentially jeopardizing their ability to get work.

Concertgoers gave a standing ovation to Raynald Leblanc, president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) local at the Journal de Montréal. The ovation was triggered when Leblanc ended his comments by affirming the workers’ determination to continue the fight.

Leblanc welcomed the presence of workers from the Journal de Québec who had waged a successful fight against a 16-month lockout by Quebecor Media. He also welcomed workers from Le Réveil, who since March 2009 have also been locked-out by the same bosses. He thanked workers from a spectrum of different unions in Quebec for coming and bringing their solidarity.

Claudette Carbonneau, president of the CSN, reaffirmed the federation’s ongoing commitment to the struggle.

On January 24 last year, the company locked the workers out in an attempt to force them to accept a new contract with deep concessions. Two days later, workers voted to reject the company’s final offer by 99 percent.

Quebecor Media bosses have made 230 demands, including eliminating almost 75 jobs, lengthening the workweek by 25 percent without compensation, cutting wages of some workers, and reducing benefits by 20 percent.

Over the past year, workers have maintained their picket lines and established their own online newspaper, RueFrontenac.com.

Union officials say Quebecor has refused to negotiate. It produces a scab version of the daily Journal de Montréal mainly based on news agencies like Reuters or Canadian Press. It continues to have a large distribution because it gives many issues away free.
 
 
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