Calgary Herald meets publishing schedule despite strike

The Calgary Herald made it out on time Friday morning despite a mounting tension among striking workers Thursday night. Picketers at the Southam paper tried to block replacement workers from putting out the newspaper.

The 200 striking newsroom, production and mail room staff got a big boost from hundreds of other supporters as various Calgary labour unions joined the picket lines.

• REGIONAL COVERAGE: CBC Calgary: Herald strikers mount massive protest

Some replacement workers were barred from going to work as police jostled with the protesters making one arrest. There were also a few minor injuries.

"I hope Southam gets the message," says Pam Barrett leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party. "These unions will not back down, they can bring in scabs all they want, the unions will not be broken."

Trucks were able to leave with the stacks of newspapers after the unions negotiated a deal with the police.

The Herald didn't make it to all its customers Friday, despite management claims that the production schedule was not affected.

The strike by members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Graphic Communications International Union has been on since Monday.

The unions are demanding improved benefits, recognition of seniority and a better pay scale for junior employees.

Publisher Dan Gayner says almost 15 per cent of the newsroom staff have been crossing the line and showing up for work. He says the tales of unhappy workers in the Herald newsroom are a myth.

The competing Calgary Sun is taking advantage of the strike. For the next six weeks 2,500 households will receive the Sun in a deceptive newspaper wrapper.

The Quebecor paper is wrapping a broadsheet that looks like the Herald around the Sun inside.