Equity issues at VICE Canada highlighted by unionization effort
This post is the seventh in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights, and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns, and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers. By Errol Salamon The VICE Canada bargaining committee has been looking closely at equity issues as it prepares for upcoming meetings in […]
Freelancers represent at the 2016 CMG convention
Last weekend media workers from across Canada came together in Toronto to discuss working conditions and the future of our industry. The biennial Canadian Media Guild convention took place on June 4th and 5th at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale. And freelancers, as always, were part of the event. CMG Freelance branch president Don Genova and a group of freelance […]
CMG plans to raise freelance issues at Vice Canada bargaining table
The Canadian Media Guild says the union plans to address the working conditions of freelancers and temporary workers at Vice Canada.
VICE Canada employees have voted to unionize
Yesterday news broke that VICE Canada employees have voted in favour of joining the Canadian Media Guild. The labour board will soon issue a formal bargaining certificate. The bargaining unit will include all VICE employees across the country aside from managers and salespeople. Vice freelancers are invited to share their concerns about their working conditions […]
CMG submits application for Vice Canada union
The Vice Canada union campaign reached an important milestone last week — the Canadian Media Guild filed for certification with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. The labour board now needs to confirm that the union has support from at least 40% of employees. After that, the board will call for a vote. Employees who haven’t yet signed a union […]
Digital Media Workers Are Unionizing Like It’s 1999
This post is the third in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights, and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns, and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers. By Errol Salamon Gawker Media’s editorial staff ratified their first union contract on March 1 with their collective bargaining representatives at the […]
Vice freelancers: The CMG wants to hear from you
If you’re a regular freelancer for Vice Canada, the Canadian Media Guild would like to hear about your experiences and working conditions. CMG organizer Karen Wirsig is involved in the Vice Canada unionizing drive that began late last year. She says Vice employees have told her they’re concerned about how freelancers are treated by the company. […]
Vice Media workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your unicorn!
By Errol Salamon This post is the second in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights, and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns, and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers. Workers at Vice Media are leading efforts to unionize digital media workplaces. These efforts have spread internationally from the United […]
CMG launches union drive at Vice Canada
Young media workers have no problem understanding the benefits of unionization, say the organizers behind Vice Canada’s union drive. “Precarity of labour is a fact for most young people,” says Tannara Yelland, a former Vice employee who is currently working as a temporary organizer with the Canadian Media Guild. “When you work in media, even if you have […]
Media workers gather in Louisville to plot path to better workplaces
By Errol Salamon In early October, journalists, labour organizers, activists and academics converged in Louisville, KY, at the Media Workers Unite Founding Convention to discuss industry-wide campaigns to organize media workers. The convention, held at Nelligan Hall and the Carl Braden Memorial Center, drew about 30 people from the United States, Canada, Australia and […]
