HarperCollins, union begin mediation

In the US, HarperCollins and the union representing its striking employees have agreed upon an independent mediator to take over labour negotiations, reports Publishers Weekly.

More than 200 union employees at HarperCollins have been on a strike since November last year over a contract dispute. The company said it hopes a mediator will clear ‘a path forward’ for employees to return to work.

‘We entered negotiations eager to find common ground, and we have remained committed to achieving a fair and reasonable contract throughout this process,’ said HarperCollins vice president of human resources Zandra Magariño. ‘We are optimistic that a mutually agreed upon mediator can help find the solutions that have eluded us so far.’

A union representative said in a statement: ‘We are hopeful the company will use this opportunity to settle fairly and reset our relationship.’ ‘This means our pressure campaign is working,’ the union said. ‘The strike will continue until we reach a fair contract agreement. Please continue to hold the line.’

Since the strike began, unionised employees have been picketing outside HarperCollins’ headquarters in Manhattan while also engaging in a social media campaign focused on liveable wages. Last week, the union also rallied outside the headquarters of HarperCollins’ parent company News Corp.

Category: International news