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August 14, 2024
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Confederation Building, East Block
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
Sent VIA Email
Premier Furey,
I’m reaching out today to request a meeting with you at your earliest availability to discuss the impacts of the recent SaltWire sale on media workers and on communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Last week, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia approved the Postmedia bid for Atlantic newspaper chain SaltWire Network and Halifax Herald Ltd. sale includes the Telegram. The Austin Street building and the press operations were not part of that sale.
Local news is vital in every community, but particularly in many of the more rural communities of Newfoundland and Labrador.
While the recent SaltWire sale will undoubtedly shift the landscape of local news in Newfoundland and Labrador, we believe there are ways your government may intervene to lessen the blow. Vitally, the unknowns surrounding the Telegram’s printing operations being left out of the sale pose significant risks, not just for the 30 workers who stand to lose their jobs, but for all the people of the province.
The workers at the printing facility, many of them Unifor members, have no idea what the future holds for them. The presses are set to be sold off to help cover Saltwire’s debts, and workers expect to be out of their jobs before the end of the month.
The Telegram’s press facility houses seven types of presses two of which cannot be found elsewhere in the province, including the only large web press, which is used for printing newspapers.
The closure of this facility would leave Newfoundland and Labrador as the only province without the ability to print newspapers.
Workers at the Telegram press facility also print a variety of community-based newspapers, magazines and pamphlets for labour and community organizations, and documents for a variety of government clients such as NL Health Services, The Rooms and Parks Canada.
The closure of this facility would have a fundamental impact on how Newfoundlanders understand and interact with their communities.
I am requesting that you meet with Unifor National Representative Sharon Walsh, Unifor Local 441-G President Keith Goss and me to discuss the actions your government can take to support workers at the Telegram print facility, and by extension all Newfoundlanders.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding possible meeting dates.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Murray
Unifor Atlantic Regional Director
