Students looking for their big break ... would you?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/10/10/mtl-gazettestrike1010.html?ref=rss


Journalism students offered work in case of Gazette strike
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 | 11:17 AM ET Comments4Recommend7
CBC News

Canwest News Service is recruiting journalism students from Concordia University to replace workers at the Montreal Gazette in case there is a strike or lockout.

CBC News has learned that several students were approached with offers to work for the news service on a fill-in basis, in case Gazette editorial, advertising and sales staff decides to execute their strike mandate.

Journalism student Dominique Jarry-Shore received a call from a Canwest editor asking her whether she would be interested in writing for the newspaper.

"He explained that it was because of the contentious labour negotiations that were going on and the possibility of a strike, and that he was trying to line up people to write for him," said Jarry-Shore, who has written on a freelance basis for the Gazette in the past.

She declined, despite what she called the enticing nature of the offer.

 

It's not about whether these student can get away with it without suffering repercussions. Being a scab -- undermining a fellow worker involved in a job dispute -- is immoral.

 

First thing that came to mind was CanWest plucking middle management types from throughout the chain to cover during the Herald strike.

There was nothing pretty about that, either.

 

It might be an excellent opportunity to get some good clips for your BLOG!

 

It's really bad of management to screw with students this way. Beyond the reaction of their peers, if these are full-time jobs with no set beginning and ending time, they expecting the kids to just shelve school?

Bastards.

 

It's been more than a few years since I lived in Montreal, but isn't Concordia predominantly French-speaking? Shouldn't the Gazette be recruiting at McGill?

 

Sirs, Madames,

Bad idea anytime, but especially in my favorite distinct society, which is a pro-union environment -- a big dif when comparing it to breaking the union at the Herald.

YD&OHS, etc

 

It'd be tempting, but there's no way I would end up doing it.

 

What would be tempting about taking another person's job when they're fighting for a better livelihood?

 

I would never do it, but I know of people who have done it recently and the repercussions weren't very severe. The unions just don't have any teeth anymore to make scabbing the hell it should be. :'(

 

Makes me want to never again touch a CanWest publication.