Canadian union, city council call for the preservation of Windsor Star archives

Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
The Starway Printing Facility on its final day of operation.
The Starway Printing Facility on its final day of operation.

As of March 3, there is no longer a daily newspaper printed in Windsor, Ontario — but what will happen to the Windsor Star's archives is still up in the air.

The Starway Printing Facility, that has printed the Windsor Star since 1996, has been shut down by the paper's parent company, Postmedia. Printing operations have been moved to Toronto to cut costs; over 75 jobs were lost due to the transition.

Unifor Local 517-G President, Colin Brian, worked as a press operator at the Windsor Star production plant for nearly three decades. He appeared in front of the Windsor city council on Feb. 27, raising concern about the Windsor Star archive collection, which remains in the Starway Printing Facility at this time.

Unifor National President Lana Payne and Unifor Local 517-G President Colin Brian on the final day at the Starway Printing Plant.
Unifor National President Lana Payne and Unifor Local 517-G President Colin Brian on the final day at the Starway Printing Plant.

Brian stressed that the archives, including documents, articles, photos and more, capture the city's history and should remain in Windsor — not moved to Toronto along with the printing operations.

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"The history of Windsor through our journalists, photographers, printers and engravers does not belong to Postmedia, but to our community," he said.

The Windsor City Council agreed to send a letter to Postmedia, encouraging the company to preserve the Windsor Star's archival collection within the city.

The city has previously made an offer to the Windsor Star to take in the archives and preserve them in the city's museum, but an agreement between Postmedia and the University of Windsor is currently being negotiated.

According to Unifor, Canada's largest union in the private sector, the collection would be "well housed" and preserved at the University of Windsor.

"However, this could be limiting to a wide public access," stated the union. "It would be nice if the collection would be made available for a more readily viewing of the public. ... Ultimately, it is Postmedia’s decision as to what occurs with archives, however, the only thing we have heard from the company so far is that they will not just dispose of them."

Newspapers on the final day of printing at the Starway Printing Plant.
Newspapers on the final day of printing at the Starway Printing Plant.

Windsor Star reporters' deadlines have been altered to give the new printing and distribution process more time, as they operate from outside the city, Brian said in front of city council members. After printing in Toronto, papers will be shipped to London, Ontario, for flyer insertion and then driven down the highway back to Windsor. Delivery delays due to weather are a new concern for reporters and readers.

As for the workers who have lost their jobs, "a closure agreement outlining severance, benefits, etc. has just been completed," according to Unifor. "Our members will be using the Labour Adjustment Centres through Local 444 to find work for our members."

Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canadian union, city council call to preserve Windsor Star archives