Talks break down between Chronicle Herald, striking newsroom staff

Eric Wynne waves to a supporter while joining other Halifax Chronicle Herald newsroom union members as they picket outside the newspaper's office after walking off the job in Halifax on Saturday, January 23, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Darren Calabrese)

HALIFAX - Conciliation talks between Canada's largest independent daily newspaper and striking newsroom staff have broken off.

The Chronicle Herald and the Halifax Typographical Union have issued news releases saying an agreement could not be reached and talks broke off on Wednesday.

The union is striking over a list of contract concessions that Herald management says are needed to cope with economic challenges affecting the North American newspaper industry.

Management at the 140-year-old newspaper wants to reduce wages, lengthen working hours, alter future pension benefits and lay off one third of the newsroom.

The Halifax Typographical Union, which now represents 57 workers at the Herald, has said it would remain a union in name only if it agreed to the proposed changes to the existing contract.

As a privately held company, the Herald does not release its financial results.