Columbia Journal- Strike Looms at Times Colonist

sept 2,2002

Production and editorial staff at the Global Canwest-owned Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria has taken a strike vote back up their position.

The main issue in the dispute is a plan by Global Canwest bosses to move the paper's circulation and advertising departments to its national head office in Winnipeg.

The giant Global Canwest took over the Southam-Hollinger newspaper chain, which includes the Times Colonist, in 2000, putting it in control of an estimated 70 per cent of the newspapers in BC. It also includes the Rogers Cable systems network and owns three of the five television outlets in BC.

In July, workers at the Vancouver Sun and Province, also owned by Global Canwest, were locked out for 18 days. Convergence and centralization of operations were issue in that dispute as well.