Globe and Mail staff back strike over wages, diversity

Workers at the Globe and Mail were set to go on strike at midnight unless a deal was reached with the newspaper’s management to boost wages and improve diversity and gender equality in the newsroom.

In an email obtained by the Star, union representatives told employees that its members from the Globe’s editorial, advertising and operations departments had voted 89 per cent in favour of initiating job action if an impasse with management continues past Thursday.

The union has never gone on strike before, but representatives from Unifor Local 87-M told employees and contract workers on Saturday it would hit the picket lines if key demands aren’t met.

“We are ready to walk out over not just one issue, but many,” wrote the representatives.

According to union representatives, the Globe has adopted stronger disciplinary tools to fast-track dismissals and job transfers, and has refused to raise general wages even to match the rate of inflation.

The union also noted that management refuses “to acknowledge or remedy” structural pay gaps among editorial employees.

“Despite internal pledges to better diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace, The Globe refuses to commit to binding goals to improve the makeup of its workforce, from new employees to newsroom leadership at all levels,” the union wrote to employees.

“The Globe has also refused proposals for greater accountability and transparency, either internal or public, on its hiring and pay practices.”

In an email circulated to the Globe’s freelancers and contract workers, the union asked that non-union members consider a temporary boycott on any work or assignments from management.

“The key to The Globe’s success is the talent behind its headlines, reporting, photography, illustrations, data, videos, audio — everything it takes to produce and support worldclass journalism,” union representatives wrote.

“We believe we have significant leverage on our own as employees, but support from the freelance community would add greater weight to any job action we take.”

In the event of a strike, the union will operate its own news website, called “Globe Nation,” until a deal with management is met.

“We know there are challenges in the industry, but The Globe and Mail is in a more privileged position than most media organizations, with a healthy subscriber base, diversified revenue streams and the support of its owners, one of the richest families in Canada,” the union wrote to employees.