Chinese-Canadian Newspaper Workers Win First Union Contract

11-week strike part of Toronto's Ming Pao Daily labour battle

TORONTO, June 8, 2012 /CNW/ - The 135 employees of the Toronto-based Chinese-language daily newspaper Ming Pao have their first union contract.

The staff weathered an 11-week strike last fall that was ended by the Ontario Labour Relations Board when it ruled that the newspaper's management was not negotiating reasonably. The labour board directed the strike to be settled by binding arbitration.

The two-year contract from arbitrator Tim Armstrong establishes a fair pay grid, reduction of the work week from 44 to 40 hours, more vacation and more paid holidays, including the Chinese New Year holiday.

"The contract vindicates the decision of staff to chose unionization," said union bargaining chair Simon Sung, a graphic designer at the newspaper.

"This union contract makes it a better place to work and fair compensation."

The Ming Pao employees are represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 87-M (Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild).

Paul Morse 1-905-536-5650
Simon Sung 647-404-9428