Deal struck in 18-month newspaper labour fight

HALIFAX— The Halifax Chronicle-Herald and the union representing the paper’s newsroom workers have reached a tentative agreement in their 18-month-old labour dispute. The Saltwire Network, which owns the Herald, and the Halifax Typographical Union said in a joint statement Saturday that a deal was reached after two days of mediation.

“(The parties) are pleased to focus on putting this difficult period behind them,” the statement said.

“We look forward to working together to provide Nova Scotians with the news and information they rely upon.”

The employees still must vote on whether to accept the agreement, whose terms have not been released.

Martin O’Hanlon, the president of Communications Workers of America Canada, which is the parent of the local Halifax Typographical Union, said the striking employees will not return to work until the agreement has been ratified.

A mediator, William Kaplan, was appointed by the Nova Scotia government in July to help the two sides reach a settlement.

Derek Mombourquette, the province’s acting labour minister, commended all parties involved for their hard work over the long weekend.

“I hope this begins the process of rebuilding the relationship between the two parties,” Mombourquette said in a statement.

The Chronicle Herald is Canada’s largest independently owned daily newspaper.

About 60 reporters, photographers, editors and support staff walked off the job on Jan. 23, 2016, over a list of contract concessions that management said were needed to cope with economic challenges affecting the North American newspaper industry.