Ming Pao workers make gains in first contract arbitration

Ming Pao workers make gains in first contract arbitration

It's been two years in the making, but Ming Pao workers finally have a first contract!

An arbitrator gave Ming Pao workers their first contract June 5 after the Ontario Labour Relations Board ordered an end to the 11-week strike at the Chinese-Canadian newspaper several weeks ago.

The arbitrator established a wage grid, reduced the work week from 44 to 40 hours, added a third and fourth week of vacation entitlement for longer service employees, and also added two paid holidays including Chinese New Year's.

The return to work followed a scorching 13-page decision by the labour board, placing the blame for the impasse at the feet of the employer, citing management's failure to recognize the legitimacy of the union and refusing to negotiate fairly.

"This is a great victory and the strikers want to thank the community and the labour movement for the support throughout the last three months, " said Union Chair Simon Sung, a graphic artist at the newspaper.  "The families of the strikers were behind us too, and that made all of the difference."

When the strike began, the union and the company were at odds over wages and job security. During bargaining, the company laid off ten employees including the chair and vice chair of the union bargaining team. Legal proceedings regarding those layoffs continue at the Labour Board later this month.

For further information contact Simon Sung at 647-404-9428 or Paul Morse at 1-905-536-5650.

Ming Pao workers took the battle to the heart of the Ming Pao newspaper empire in September with demonstrations and information pickets outside Ming Pao's world headquarters in Hong Kong that included a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. 

This followed a visit to the 1355 Huntingwood Dr. picket line in north-east Toronto by well-known Toronto MP Olivia Chow.

The Ming Pao workers were also supported in their struggle by labour organizations and politicians across Toronto. Workers from across CEP joined the CEP 87M media union picket line on Oct. 15 and the Toronto Labour Council brought workers in from across the city's labour community for another support rally on Oct. 18 and Nov. 18. And, on Nov. 23, Ming Pao union leader Simon Sung, with CEP Local President Paul Morse, addressed the OFL convention in Toronto.

Unionized workers at the Chinese-language Ming Pao newspaper in Toronto walked off the job at 8 a.m. Sept. 21 in their effort to win a first contract. 

The 140-member bargaining unit includes journalists, advertising sales, pre-press and press workers. 

Key issues on the table were wages, sales commissions, length of the workday, job security, vacation and severance pay. Employees also wanted key activists, laid off since the organizing drive was successful, returned to their jobs. The union has launched a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, arguing that the activists were laid off because of their union activity, not because of an economic restructuring, as suggested by the company.
Ming Pao workers joined the CEP 87M media union in September, 2010, and began first contract talks in January, 2011.

CEP 87M represents about 3,000 media workers in 35 workplaces across Ontario.