You know how the Journal always has little boxes pointing you to Canoe.ca? For Richard Martineau’s blog, or photo galleries, forums, or various other Quebecor cross-platform stuff? A grievance from the union that dates from before the lockout (in fact, dates so far back it mentions Canoe blogs from Patrick Lagacé and Dominic Arpin that no longer exist) has finally been decided on. The ruling from arbitrator Diane Sabourin (PDF) says that these promos in editorial space were promotional material, which violates the collective agreement’s clauses preventing the mixing of advertising and editorial content.

This case is actually somewhat complicated because of the Journal’s union contract. The contract prevents the Journal from setting up a website without union approval, so instead Journal stories have been published on canoe.ca. The Journal has been pushing the limits of this ability by pointing to columnists’ blogs and other material on Canoe. Here, it was determined that the employer crossed the line. Either the contract will have to be changed or such promotions will have to be done in advertising space.

The union, of course, is celebrating.

QUINZE. TONNES.

Free trip to Switzerland

Rue Frontenac’s Jean-Philippe Pineault has been “invited” on a trip to Switzerland sponsored by the Swiss tourism bureau. Apparently there are no ethical issues involved here.

In brief

• Pierre-Karl Péladeau still has his eye on the Canadiens.
• Journal workers followed PKP (or is that Neo?) to Trois-Rivières.
• Journal de Montréal workers also visited the Journal de Sherbrooke. That paper isn’t unionized, and didn’t show any love for their colleagues.
• The STIJM is putting out weekly lockout newsletters with updates.
• Péladeau apparently doesn’t think too highly of professional photojournalists.
• The redesigned Journal du Journal website has a piece taking on Péladeau’s argument that the union is inflexible in the face of new technology.
• Everyone’s all having babies and stuff.
• Support from Domlebo, UNEQ (which also isn’t crazy about TVA Publications), and Jacques Demers.
• Pot shots at the Journal for laziness, convergence gone mad and faulty analysis.

Synergie multi-plateforme globale intégrée de toute

Christian Vanasse’s take on PKP during what was otherwise a fairly uninteresting AJIQ awards ceremony.

And at Le Réveil…

• Gilles Duceppe still supports you.
• They’re not crazy about Péladeau in the Saguenay either.