Herald, union reach tentative deal

The Chronicle Herald and the union representing the paper’s striking newsroom workers have reached a tentative agreement in their 18-month-old labour dispute.

The Chronicle 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.”

On Sunday, the union tweeted that members would vote on the tentative agreement Thursday at noon.

The terms of the deal 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.

Still, O’Hanlon called the tentative agreement a relief.

“We’re obviously very pleased that this could be over,” he told CBC.

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

Herald management was also buoyed by the tentative deal but both sides are under a temporary media blackout.

“We were asked by the mediator to refrain from any comment on the process until the union has had a chance to meet with their members and have a ratification vote,” said Ian Scott, Chief Operating Officer of Herald parent company SaltWire Network.

Derek Mombourquette, the province’s acting labour minister, commended all parties involved in the discussions 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 unionized reporters, photographers, editors and support staff walked off the job Jan. 23, 2016, over a list of contract concessions that the company said were needed to cope with economic challenges affecting the North American newspaper industry.