TORONTO – Unifor says newsroom employees at the National Post will receive average increases of 8.25 per cent over two years following a prolonged wage freeze.

The union says workers have ratified their first collective agreement six months after voting overwhelmingly to form a union at one of Canada’s largest daily newspapers.

Some employees will see double-digit percentage raises.

National Post journalists can now claim cash overtime, file grievances for binding arbitration, pursue editorial integrity issues, exercise seniority rights, and receive enhanced termination pay and severance in the case of layoffs.

Employees with 20 years or more service will have a sixth week of vacation restored.

Unifor also says that, in a first for Canadian unionized newspapers, BIPOC job candidates who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour as well as other underrepresented communities will receive priority in cases of relatively equal interviews and in intern hiring.

“Our bargaining priorities were clear from the beginning,” stated Paul Morse, Unifor Local 87-M president. “The members wanted to address low wages, job security, diversity, benefits, and editorial integrity.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2021.

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