La Presse publisher threatens to close Quebec daily
AFP
MONTREAL - The publisher of La Presse, Canada's second largest French-language newspaper, threatened on Thursday to permanently stop the presses unless its 700 employees agree to deep salary cuts before December.
"We have three months ahead of us, enough time to discuss and sign a negotiated agreement allowing us to cut labor costs," Guy Creview, publisher of the Montreal daily, said in an email to staff obtained by AFP.
The newspaper, which is to celebrate its 125th anniversary in October, has been bargaining with its union for weeks for a new collective agreement that takes into account changes in the print media sector.
Like in other countries, newspapers in Canada have been grappling with a slide in advertising revenue, declining circulation and the migration of readers to free news online.
La Presse cut its Sunday edition in July.
The ultimatum at La Presse comes as North America's premier French-language daily, Le Journal de Montreal, marks the ninth month of a staff lockout.
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