CEP Press Release

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
203 – 275 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba    R3C 4M6   (204) 988-1400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2005

Former CEP members now have been paid the money owed to them by one of the largest printing companies in the world two years after the Company closed its Winnipeg plant and fought the employees at arbitration and in court.

The 21 former members, once employees of Moore Canada (a unit of Chicago-based R.R. Donnelly) were owed a retroactive wage increase totalling $21,592.32 after Moore shuttered the plant in December, 2003.  CEP Local 341 filed a grievance to fight for the unemployed workers.  Arbitrator Blair Graham released his decision on Dec. 24, 2004 to award back pay for the terminated employees of Moore’s Winnipeg plant.

However, the U.S.-based printing giant made it clear to CEP it would never settle and during the arbitration rejected an offer from the Union to settle for about $500 per employee.  Moore Canada filed for judicial review in early 2005.  Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Deborah McCawley dismissed Moore’s case in August.  The Employer reviewed its case but never filed an appeal within the time limits and quietly paid out its former employees.

Cheques ranging from $700 to almost $1,600 were mailed out to the former CEP members over the fall. Many of the 21 unionized workers at the Company’s plant on Erin Street had worked between 30 and 40 years for the organization. The printing plant had been in Winnipeg for more than 80 years before the Company abruptly announced its closure just weeks before Christmas 2003.

As we head into another holiday season, CEP wishes the former Moore employees all the best for the new year as this Christmas marks the end of their battle with Moore.

CEP Local 341 represents about 550 workers in commercial print and manufacturing. CEP represents 162,000 working people coast to coast in energy, paper, commercial print, telecommunications and media.

- 30 -

For more information, contact:       
Paul McKie
National Representative
(204) 223-9421