Quebecor closes Vancouver mag printing plant

Quebecor is closing a profitable magazine printing plant in Vancouver, throwing 200 people out of work, becuse it doesn't like its contract with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP). At least that's what the president of Canada's largest media union, Dave Coles, is saying publicly. The Southeast Marine Drive plant prints many west coast titles.

"I am surprised and disappointed that Quebecor has decided to abandon its employees," says the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union president in a letter to Wes W. Lucas, president and CEO of Quebecor. The comments were reported in a news release from the CEP.

The plant, in operation at that location for more than 50 years, prints a host of familiar magazines as well as products destined for other markets and the popular new commuter daily, 24 Hours. It employs 130 unionized workers and about 60 non-union staff, said the release.

"This facility is profitable," says union Local president Alex Charles. "The employer called all of the staff together to congratulate them on meeting their sales targets for the year - by April - and two days later assembled them again to tell them the place was closing."

"That's a pretty powerful admission," Charles observed. "Even though they're still getting their profit, they're closing the place because they think the workers there make too much. That's just spiteful. It's a lousy way to treat the people that have been generating your company's wealth".

"This highly profitable employer is simply trying to send a message to working people that it's okay for corporations to make good money, but not for workers," said Charles. "That's not going to wash in Canada in the twenty-first century. Our members won't be pushed backwards, to face tomorrow's prices with yesterday's wages. What is this company thinking?"