HAMILTON – Channel Zero, the parent company of CHCH, announced Monday afternoon that it has reached a final settlement with Unifor, which had been fighting for compensation for members terminated in December 2015 when the company restructured the Hamilton-based TV station.
The total settlement amount of $1,000,001 will be paid out over two years and is earmarked to pay wages, termination pay and severance pay owing to the former employees, the company said in a statement.
Readers will remember the station drastically cut employees and programming as it faced a severe financial crunch (some programming has since been re-introduced). At the time, all 129 full time and 38 part time employees of Channel 11 LP were let go, and then under a new company, 58 of those full time employees and 23 part timers were hired.
Those who were not asked back received no severance at the time.
“We are pleased to have reached a full and final settlement with Unifor as it relates to the matters of dispute in relation to the December 2015 restructuring of CHCH,” said Chris Fuoco, Channel Zero’s SVP sales and marketing, in a statement.
“We commend Unifor for being solution oriented and balanced in its approach throughout the negotiation, and for taking the lead in terms of administering and directing the settlement payments to the Former Employees. The total settlement … is substantial, but at the same time will not subject CHCH to such a financial burden that it might jeopardize the station’s operations. The station will continue to serve its viewers and advertisers as it has for over 60 years. We want to thank all those who continue to show their support for the station, keeping it the #1 destination for local news and information in the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara regions.”
"Today's deal means some justice for these dedicated workers," said Unifor President Jerry Dias in a press release. "The challenges facing the broadcast industry as a whole, however, continue. The federal government and the CRTC need to act quickly to ensure we continue to have strong local broadcasters delivering news to keep Canadians informed about their communities."
"This resolution took many months of work, and would not have been possible without the support and solidarity of the membership," added Unifor national representative Liz Marzari, in the release. "Without a union, these workers still would have received nothing. Without today's deal, they could be months or years from seeing any settlement."
