Windsor Star employees voted 97% in favour of a strike if Postmedia doesn't come to the table with a fair deal.
Nearly 180 staff from The Star's print facility and downtown offices gathered at the Unifor Local 195 Hall on Somme Ave. Sunday to hear an update on contract negotiations and cast their vote.
No strike date has been set, but Windsor Star Unifor Local 240 and the Joint Council of Unions Chairperson Julie Kotsis says Postmedia are simply asking for too many concessions to back down.
"Postmedia has been asking us for some very serious concessions at the table surrounding pensions, benefits, vacation entitlement, retiree benefits, and a number of other areas," says Kotsis.
With cut-backs becoming the norm in the media-industry, Kotsis says she's left wondering why Postmedia executives have actually made 33% more in 2017 than they did in 2016.
"Paul Godfrey [CEO] alone earned $1.7-million, which was a 5% increase. Andrew MacLeod, who's the COO and President, he got 15% more in 2017, that's $800,000," she says. "It is fair to say the industry has been struggling, but I haven't seen anything coming from the top showing that they're making any concessions."
The strength of the vote shows union members won't back down, she added.
"I think that sends a strong message to Postmedia that they need to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract with us," says Kotsis.
Kotsis says she expects talks to resume in early March, but is unsure when the company will return to the table.
Employees have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2016.