CWA Canada condemns Herald refugee story

HALIFAX – CWA Canada, the national union that represents striking newsroom staff at The Chronicle Herald, is appalled at the paper’s irresponsible and unethical article on refugee children that has incited hatred against Muslim refugees.

The story in the weekend edition, written by an anonymous scab reporter and quoting two anonymous sources, makes allegations of choking and bullying by refugee elementary students.

The paper has since removed the article from its website and admitted that it was “incomplete” and “insufficiently corroborated.” But the Herald has not fully retracted the piece nor apologized for running it.

The online version of the story has been used by ultra-conservatives and racists to promote intolerance and bigotry.

CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon said the article shows an “appalling abdication of journalistic integrity.”

“I have been a journalist for 25 years and I have never seen such a grossly irresponsible piece of rubbish from a reputable newspaper,” O’Hanlon said.

“This would never have happened if real journalists were on the job instead of scabs.”

The story is the latest in a succession of errors and gaffes in The Chronicle Herald during the 11-week strike by nearly 60 newsroom staff, who are members of the Halifax Typographical Union (CWA Canada Local 30130).

CWA Canada will be making a donation to Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia to show our support for helping Syrian refugees settle into a better life in a welcoming and tolerant Canada.

About CWA Canada

CWA Canada represents about 6,000 workers at companies such as the CBC, The Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters and many Postmedia publications.

For interviews or more information, contact:

Martin O'Hanlon

President, CWA Canada

613-820-8460

mohanlon@cwa-scacanada.ca