The first Arnold Amber Memorial Lecture, presented by the Centre for Labour Management Relations at Ryerson University, and sponsored by CWA Canada, celebrated the life and legacy of the longtime advocate of the right and fair. Buzz Hargrove (right of poster) delivered the keynote address, followed by tributes from (left of poster) Lise Lareau, a former president of the Canadian Media Guild, and Martin O’Hanlon, president of CWA Canada, and (far right) Maurice Mazerolle, director of the CLMR. They are surrounded by members of Arnold’s family, who turned out for the event on Thursday evening, May 10.
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CWA Canada stands with VICE as source protection case goes to Supreme Court
Source: cwacanada.ca
VICE Media’s legal fight with the RCMP over a journalist’s right to protect sources goes before the Supreme Court of Canada today.
Standing alongside VICE will be CWA Canada, the only union in a coalition of news outlets and journalist organizations that has been granted intervener status in the case.
A production order issued by the Mounties against VICE journalist Ben Makuch to hand over all communications between him and an alleged ISIS fighter was upheld by the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon called the rulings “bad news for journalism and for democracy” and committed the union to continuing the fight to the highest court in the land.
“As a media union, we will speak out loudly to protect freedom of expression and the role of a free press as a pillar of democracy,” O’Hanlon said.
“Police have an important job to do in protecting us from crime, but they cannot expect journalists to do that job for them. The media is not, nor should it ever be, an arm of the state.”
The media union represents workers at VICE’s Canadian news operations through its biggest Local, the Canadian Media Guild.
Vice journalist ‘eager’ on eve of his press-freedom hearing at Supreme Court
“What makes this case different from a confidential source case is that it’s about material a journalist has gathered but keeps to him or herself and uses as the journalist sees fit in a story.”
Paul Schabas, counsel to intervener coalition
The coalition, which recently received approval to act as interveners, also includes the CBC, APTN, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, the Canadian Association of Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders.
Another case that could make its way to the Supreme Court is that of investigative journalist Marie-Maude Denis. Her employer, Radio-Canada, will appeal a Quebec Superior Court ruling from late March that orders her to reveal her source in a corruption trial.
In response to that ruling, O’Hanlon said: “It’s frustrating that this sort of thing continues to happen, especially with the passage of federal legislation in 2017 that recognizes the right of journalists to protect their sources.”
“It is vital for free speech and democracy that journalists guard the anonymity of their sources. If not, sources, including whistleblowers, will be far less likely to talk to journalists knowing that they could be identified and punished. The result? Canadians will be blocked from important information and stories about matters of vital public interest.”
Media union condemns attempted intimidation of VICE journalists
Source: cwacanada.ca
OTTAWA / TORONTO / MONTREAL – The union that represents staff at VICE Canada is outraged at an attempt by right-wing radicals to intimidate journalists at the news organization’s office in Montreal and calls for police to take action.
CWA Canada and its biggest Local, the Canadian Media Guild (CMG), strongly condemn the action as an attack on freedom of the press that must be punished.
Members of the far-right, anti-immigration group Atalante burst into the VICE office Wednesday to protest an article by reporter Simon Coutu.
The men, dressed in black and masked in the colours of the Quebec flag, marched around, shouted and threw papers at workers. They surrounded Coutu and presented him with a mock prize denigrating his work.
Police showed up after the intruders left but it is not clear what, if any, action they plan to take.
“We are clearly talking about bullying, but that will not prevent us from doing our job well,” Coutu vowed.
CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon said authorities cannot let the violation go unpunished.
“We cannot allow hooligans to get away with this sort of intimidation or it will encourage more serious and possibly violent incidents,” O’Hanlon said. “It is a threat to freedom of the press and to our democracy.
“Journalists are a force for good in this country and they should not face this kind of harassment.”
Canadian Media Guild President Kamala Rao expressed relief that the journalists, CMG members, are safe.
“Everyone deserves to be safe in their workplace and journalists must be able to report on whatever stories we believe are relevant to our communities, to audiences. That is the job, and that work is central to the core values of our society,” Rao said.
“The work that journalists do often draws attention where it’s not wanted. And that is as it should be. Attacks against journalists for doing this vital work must not be tolerated.”
CMG is following up with its VICE members and the employer to learn from this incident and try to ensure it can’t happen again.
CWA Canada represents about 6,000 media workers at newspapers and other companies coast to coast, including the CBC, The Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Halifax Chronicle Herald, and Victoria Times Colonist.
For more information contact:
Martin O’Hanlon
President, CWA Canada
(613) 867-5090
Kamala Rao
President, Canadian Media Guild
(647) 468-2587
Javiera Quintana
Acting President, VICE Branch, Canadian Media Guild
Stephanie Rewjakin
Quebec Director, VICE Branch, Canadian Media Guild
Newsrooms are Forming Unions to Create Better Pay, Better Benefits and Better Journalism
Source: editorandpublisher.com/
After a series of management shake-ups and unpopular policies, the Los Angeles Timesmade history in January when its newsroom voted 248-44 to unionize. It was the first time in the organization’s 136 years of operation.
So, why now?
Sally Davidow, communications director at the NewsGuild-CWA (who helped the Times organize), said the environment is changing in favor of unions for a number of reasons: “The victory at the L.A. Times has certainly sparked interest in other places, but also the atmosphere in general was sort of ripe for before that. The situation in the industry is very dire. People feel they can’t earn a decent living and they have no control over their work schedules. They really want a voice at work and equity for women and people of color. So, there are a lot of very important issues.”
CWA Canada Statement on Radio-Canada Court Ruling
Statement by CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon on a judge ordering Radio-Canada journalist Marie-Maude Denis to reveal her sources
“It’s frustrating that this sort of thing continues to happen, especially with the passage of federal legislation last year recognizing the right of journalists to protect their sources.
The media is not, nor should it ever be, an arm of the state. As journalists, we must fight any attempt by anyone, especially authorities, to interfere with freedom of the press.
It is vital for free speech and democracy that journalists guard the anonymity of their sources. If not, sources, including whistleblowers, will be far less likely to talk to journalists knowing that they could be identified and punished. The result? Canadians will be blocked from important information and stories about matters of vital public interest.
As a media union, we will speak out loudly to protect freedom of expression and the role of a free press as a pillar of democracy.
And we will support taking this case to the Supreme Court if necessary.”
L.A. Times Workers Vote Overwhelmingly for Union
Source: newsguild.org/
Jan. 19, 2018 – The results are in: Newsroom employees at the Los Angeles Times voted 248-44 to join The NewsGuild-CWA, ending 136 years of unfettered rule by management. Those voting in favor of the union captured 85 percent of the vote.
Reporters, copy editors, graphic artists and photographers who organized the union drive were elated.
“Today we made history,” they wrote in a letter to their co-workers. “For the first time since the Los Angeles Times printed its inaugural edition in 1881, our journalists have voted to form a union.
“We’ve long been a proud voice for our readers. Finally, we can be a proud voice for ourselves. Anyone familiar with the history of The Times— and of Los Angeles itself— knows the significance of what we’ve just accomplished.”
Jon Schleuss, a graphics and data reporter who was on the union Organizing Committee, said the vote sends a message to Tronc, the paper’s owner: “You have to work with us and you have to begin working with us today.”
‘My Dream’
The union drive was initiated by newsroom employees, who spent months talking with their co-workers to build support for the union. By the time on-site voting took place on Jan. 4, the newsroom was awash with pro-union signs and the group’s Twitter feed was filled with workers explaining why they were voting “yes.”
“My dream was to work here since middle school. I wanted my communities — Latinos, youths and LGBTQ — reflected in our coverage. That’s why I’m voting today @latguild. Let’s continue to open doors for others,” tweeted digital editor Brian De Los Santos.
“After 136 years of giving a voice to others, it’s time Los Angeles Times journalists had a voice of their own,” wrote Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Bettina Boxall.
Changing Landscape
The workers’ victory is part of a national trend, said NewsGuild President Bernie Lunzer. “The media landscape is changing, with the demands of private profiteers pushing against the hallowed traditions of quality journalism.
“The journalists of the L.A. Times are taking control of their own future,” he said.
Columnist Steve Lopez said, “Maybe unions can’t save the news biz. But they can raise the voices of those who can — journalists. Having written for decades about economic justice, I’m with Los Angeles Times Guild colleagues committed to a mission I share at a newspaper I love.”
Moving Quickly
The Guild is moving quickly to tap into the enthusiasm of the campaign. “We encourage everyone to get involved, even if you were not a part of the union election campaign,” the Organizing Committee’s letter said. “The union we’ve created belongs to everyone. There is no better time to get involved.”
Organizers will soon seek volunteers for a committee to negotiate a first-ever collective bargaining agreement with L.A. Times management. Workers are seeking improved pay, better benefits, pay equity for women and people of color, greater diversity and better working conditions.
More about the decision to vote yes:
Business reporter Geoffrey Mohan tweeted, “After three decades in journalism, I won’t stand by while outside, nouveau investors try to turn local journalism into a sweatshop. I support @latguild.”
“There’s a lot of emphasis on our ‘independence’ in [management’s] anti-union email. But @latguild isn’t a third party. It’s us, the journalists of the L.A. Times. We’re standing up for each other, together,” tweeted copy editor Kristina Bui.
“When I moved to LA I was shocked at the low morale and high turnover. I was also shocked at how dependent we are on interns, trainees, and contractors who are underpaid, underappreciated and overworked. The ONLY people who are addressing this is @latguild,” wrote designer Bakr Saliq.
“I’m voting YES for the #latguild in tomorrow’s historic election at the L.A. Times to preserve a great institution’s ethical standards and quality of journalism. Any erosion of them and the paper is doomed, including financially,” said investigative reporter Paul Pringle.
“I love the Los Angeles Times, and I want to make it better,” transportation reporter Laura Nelson said. “Big breaking news stories and investigations are proof that we’re at our best when we collaborate. We should stand together to fight for our workplace, too.”
“Our newspaper has no problem pointing out inequalities outside our building,” said reporter Jaweed Kaleem, who covers race and justice. “It’s time to seriously address them inside — locking in pay, benefits and editorial independence.”
2018 John Belcarz / Dan Zeidler post-secondary education/training memorial scholarships
Dear Local President,
I am pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the John Belcarz / Dan Zeidler post-secondary education/training memorial scholarships. Two scholarships of $1,000 each are available.
The accompanying attachments contain a poster and application form in English and French (also available on our website: http://www.cwa-scacanada.ca). Please circulate this information to your members.
In solidarity,
Martin O’Hanlon
President, CWA Canada
Downloads for print
Poster English Poster Français Application English Application Français
Union fights firing of CBC political reporter over book deal
Source: cwacanada.ca
CWA Canada and its largest Local are going to bat for member Richard Zussman, who was fired by the CBC for allegedly breaching rules governing activities outside of work.
The Canadian Media Guild (CMG ), which represents thousands of employees at the public broadcaster, has taken the case to arbitration and is seeking a ruling from labour mediator Vince Ready.
Zussman, 34, who was the B.C. provincial affairs reporter, based in Victoria, has co-authored a book about the defeat of Christy Clark’s Liberal government and the rise to power of NDP Premier John Horgan. It is to be published this spring.
CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson said in a statement that Zussman’s employment “was not terminated simply for co-authoring a book.”
He said the decision was “based on the findings of a third-party investigation,” which determined that the reporter had violated CBC’s code of conduct, conflict-of-interest rules and the collective agreement with the CMG.
CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon called it a “baffling overreaction by CBC management.”
“Why on Earth would they fire a political journalist for writing a book about politics?” O’Hanlon asked. “They’ve somehow managed the perplexing feat of turning good press into bad press.”
“The union remains solidly behind Richard Zussman and we will continue to devote all resources necessary to protect our members from disproportionate or arbitrary discipline.”
The CMG, noting that members had expressed concern about the situation and “possible overreach by management,” said the collective agreement permits members who work at the CBC to “engage in activities, such as voluntary and/or paid work outside their hours of work …
“There are some restrictions, namely that employees may not work with the competition; that they may not, without permission, exploit their connection with the CBC; and that they cannot take part in activities that will adversely affect their work. Additionally, recognized on-air personnel must discuss any outside activities before engaging in them.”
The CMG said management had, in January 2015, instituted a blanket policy prohibiting all paid outside appearances by on-air journalists. The guild has grieved that policy and plans to pursue the issue during bargaining in 2018.
Zussman, a videojournalist who had previously worked for CityTV in Edmonton and Sun News Network in Vancouver, is described by other journalists as a hard-working and popular legislative reporter. He co-wrote the book about B.C. politics with Vancouver Sun reporter Rob Shaw.
Premier Horgan, in an exclusive interview with Mike Smyth, a columnist with The Province, said the firing of Zussman earlier this month was “outrageous. The guy’s a professional and he’s being treated very, very poorly by an organization that clearly doesn’t understand his value to them.
“They’re burning a very useful asset. As a business decision, it’s a bad one.”
Smyth reported that he was told “Zussman’s sin is that he did not secure proper written approvals from senior CBC management to co-write the book.”
Horgan told Smyth that “For the CBC to come to a conclusion that working as a political reporter on the political story of the year, if not the decade, in British Columbia was somehow diminishing the role of the CBC is ridiculous.
“To be punished for that just staggers me. I don’t understand it.”
CWA Joe Beirne Foundation’s 2018-2019 Scholarship
November 14, 2017
To: CWA Local Presidents
Dear Colleagues:
This is to inform you that we will be announcing the application process for the CWA Joe Beirne Foundation’s scholarship for the 2018-2019 school year.
Attached you will find a copy of the Beirne Foundation scholarship rules, along with a copy of the poster that can be distributed to members and posted on the local websites.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved the awarding of sixteen (16) partial college scholarships of $4,000 each for two years. Eligible for the scholarships are CWA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren, including the dependents of retired, laid-off, or deceased members. Applications will be available solely online for submission on the Foundation’s website at http://cwa-union.org/beirne-application.
Please follow this link at www.cwa-union.org/beirneposter for the poster that you can distribute to members and post on local websites to encourage participation. Full program details can be found on the website at:
http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne_scholarship_application .
This valuable scholarship program is made possible by the funding of CWA locals. For those locals not yet participating in funding the Beirne scholarships, I urge you to do so. Financial arrangements can be made to accommodate your local’s needs.
For more information and assistance, please call 202.434.1320.
In Unity,
Christopher M. Shelton
President
cc: Executive Board
CWA National Staff
Understanding Canada’s new shield law for confidential sources
Source :j-source.ca/
Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s new shield law for confidential sources.
By Lisa Taylor, Brian MacLeod Rogers and Ryder Gilliland
Canada has a new law that offers significantly enhanced protections to reporters’ confidential sources and recognizes the societal value in protecting the journalist-source relationship.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Journalistic Source Protection Act, which became law on Thursday, Oct. 19 after being approved unanimously by both the House of Commons and the Senate. This Act amends both the Criminal Code and the Canada Evidence Act in favour of giving considerably more weight to a journalist’s promise of confidentiality to a source.