College Printers to close Sept. 30, 2010

College Printers, one of the oldest commercial printers in the Lower Mainland, will close on Sept. 30, 2010, its owner, Canwest Community Publishing, announced Thursday, when bargaining was to commence for new collective agreements with CEP Local 2000 and Local 525-G.

Ninety-seven members of Local 2000 will be affected by the decision as well as 30 employees represented by Local 525-G. Eight management employees will also lose their jobs.

Predecessor locals of B.C.’s Media Union have represented employees at College since at least 1953.

“This is a very bleak day for all affected employees and for all Local 2000 members,” said Local 2000 President Mike Bocking.

“We knew this was going to be a tough round of bargaining, but to get this announcement just before bargaining for a new contract was supposed to begin was a shock,” said Peter McQuade, national rep for the CEP. “We will be holding membership meetings to see where we go from here.”

College prints weekly newspapers owned by Canwest Community Publishing and the B.C. edition of the Globe and Mail.

The contract to print the Globe and Mail ends in July 2010. The ending of that contract has been seen for some time as a threat to the viability of the Richmond-based College Printers. As well, the ongoing restructuring of parent company Canwest Global Communications Corp. has added to the uncertainty.

The notices given the union can be downloaded by clicking here: College Printers Notice (520)

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Local News.