On November 7th, 8th and 9th, the Union and our Employer met at the Labour Board in Edmonton to try and resolve issues surrounding the Ed Web plant closure. The full three days were taken up with evidence presented by both sides, with the Union still seeking recognition for its displaced Ed Web employees.

A further meeting is scheduled for November 24th, where closing arguments will be heard. We are confident that the hearings will result in a positive outcome for all of us.

Septmeber 29, 2006
Hearing Dates Further Postponed

The hearing dates at the Alberta Labour Relations Board have been postponed yet again at the request of the employer. Wonder what he's afraid of... The new dates have been scheduled for any three days between November 6th and 10th.

June 22, 2006
Central Web Picket Gets Tons of Support

Picketers at Central Web were shown an outstanding display of support on Thursday, as members from several CEP locals as well as other unions showed up to lift everyone's spirits. Also present were CEP Western Region Administrative Vice President Don MacNeil, AFL President Gil McGowan and David Eggen, NDP MLA for Edmonton-Calder. Pictures from that day can be found here!

May 10, 2006
Hearing Dates Postponed

As winter turns into spring, our gloves are still off but if you take a look at our pictures you will find that some of our clothes are coming off as well! Hopefully as the temperatures get warmer some more sisters and brothers will be able to join us down on the line for a beach party. For those of you who have honked or stopped by for a visit, thank you for your support. It is really appreciated.

Our April hearing dates have been postponed due to the Chairman's unavailability. The new dates are now July 5th, 6th and 7th, 2006

April 24, 2006
Report From Alberta Area Council Meeting

Three members from Local 255G attended the Alberta Area Council meeting - Joe Bennett, James Wade and Travis Lindgren. Congratulations to the city of Hinton for 50 years of unionism, and for the outstanding hospitality everyone received at the event. The meetings were very interesting and informative, and a lot of different viewpoints were represented.

On behalf of the workers at Ed-Web Printers, our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone in attendance at the Area Council. Your words of support and extremely generous donations have truly lifted the spirits of all of the members affected by the layoffs on Family Day. Overall, we received $2,203.35 in the form of a $1,000.00 cheque from the Area Council and an additional $1,203.35 in donations raised by the members in attendance. It was a wonderful display of solidarity!

If you would like to, please come and join us in our fight on the picket line at CentralWeb. You can find us there between 9 and 5 on weekdays, it's hard to miss driving down 170th Street. The address is;

16940 110 Avenue
Edmonton Alberta

April 18, 2006
Information Picket Moves to CentralWeb

Thanks to all the people who have supported us on our picket line outside the offices at Ed-Web Printing. Your visits with us really lifted our spirits. We will be continuing to demonstrate on a limited basis outside Ed-Web, but the majority of our focus has now shifted to CentralWeb Colorpress, the headquarters of our company. Please join us here Monday to Friday to help us show our displeasure and distaste for the actions of this employer.

The address is:
16940 110 Avenue
Edmonton Alberta

In addition, a further resolution conference has been set for Thursday, April 20 between both parties.

April 4, 2006
Dates set for Labour Relations Board

In the matter of the Ed-Web plant closure, a resolution conference between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and Black Press/Central Web Offset Ltd. has been set for Tuesday, April 11. Further hearing dates have been set for April 24th, 25th and 26th.

March 22, 2006
New Contract at Quebecor World Edmonton

Quebecor World Employees of Local 255G Edmonton ratified their Collective Agreement by 76% in favor vote held on Wednesday at the Mayfield Inn. The deal was for three years and included improvements in pension, benefits and a general wage increase of 3% per year as well as other favourable amendments. Also subject to ratification, the Employer agreed to install a new press in the Edmonton plant. There were no concessions given to the employer in this bargaining session, in part as a result of coordinated bargaining with Local 525G in Vancouver and 100G in Toronto. It was a great example of "Strength in Unity". Congratulations to the Bargaining Committee and the membership!

If you require further details, feel free to contact Ray at (780) 426-0624.

February 24, 2006
Ed Web Fires Unionized Printers, Replaces Them With Non Union Workers

Ed-Web Printers fired 20 unionized workers on Family Day, February 20, 2006. The company called the workers - many at home enjoying the holiday - and gave them their pink slips the next morning.

The work done by the dismissed employees is being transferred to a nearby non-union plant, Central Web, owned by the same conglomerate. The company just bought a new press for the non-union plant specifically to do the work of the laid-off union members.

Ed-Web Printers has been unionized for more than 30 years - during which time the union and its members have worked hard to make the company profitable. They depend upon their jobs to support their families. Now the company is trying to replace them with cheaper labour simply to increase its bottom line.

The union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers ( CEP ) Local 255-G is charging Ed-Web at the Alberta Labour Relations Board. Alberta labour laws clearly guarantee workers the right to have a union. If companies are allowed to simply move union work to a different location and have it performed by non-union labour, then that right doesn't really exist at all.

Help the pressroom and bindery workers who have been fired by Ed-Web get justice. Call Ed-Web at 415-6700 and let them know what you think about companies discarding long-time employees for cheaper labour. Don't let Ed-Web get away with this Family Day Massacre.

*Taken from a handbill produced by the Alberta Federation of Labour for CEP Local 255-G.

February 24, 2006
Unions Cry Foul Over "Family Day Massacre" at Ed-Web Printers

EDMONTON - Alberta unions are up in arms after learning about an "unethical and probably illegal" scheme to bust the union at a prominent Edmonton printing company.

"It's bad enough that they've fired all the employees and handed their jobs to non-union workers," says Gil McGowan, president of Alberta's largest union organization, the Alberta Federation of Labour.

"But to do it on Family Day, when most of the employees were at home enjoying time with their families, is simply reprehensible.

McGowan says the owners of Ed-Web have miscalculated if they thought they could get away with the firing because of the relatively small number of employees involved.

"This may be a small group of workers, but the basic principles involved are huge," says McGowan.

"We may not have the best labour laws in the country, but even here in Alberta it is illegal for employers to close down a union shop and open up across the street with a new, non-union work force. That's exactly what's happened here - and we simply won't allow them to get away with it."

Ed-Web managers informed the union of the firings late in the afternoon on Family Day. Fifteen press room workers and five bindery workers - all members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 255-G - received formal pink slips the next day.

"This was a huge shock to all of us," says local union president Ray Wade. "These were decent, family-sustaining jobs. The union has worked with the company to make this a profitable operation for more than 30 years. This clearly isn't about economics - it's about busting the union."

Wade says the firings are particularly difficult because several of the affected workers have young families.

"One of our guys was just getting back on his feet after losing his home in the St. Albert condo fire in December. He's got a wife and a baby. This is just devastating for them," says Wade.

Ed-Web is part of a larger printing conglomerate that includes Edmonton-based Central Web and Calgary Colourpress in Calgary. Ed-Web is best known for printing the popular Trader publications and the various renters' guides. The work done by union members at Ed-Web has now been transferred to a new press at the non-union Central Web plant.

McGowan says the Ed-Web case is significant because it strikes at the heart of the right that workers have to join a union and bargain collectively.

"The Supreme Court has ruled that Canadians have a constitutional right to belong to unions. But that's an empty right if employers can simply fire union members at will and replace them with non-union workers. That's why the broader labour movement is taking a big interest in this case - the Ed Web's worker's fight is our fight."

*Taken from a news release produced by the Alberta Federation of Labour for CEP Local 255-G.