La Presse staff sing their troubles away

Employees at La Presse are trying to keep their sense of humour in the face of threats that the 125-year-old Montreal newspaper could be shut down.

If it cant reach a deal with the union representing its journalists by Dec. 1, the paper's parent company, Gesca Lte,has said it will close thedaily because it can no longer maintain itscurrent business model.

In response, a team of reporters recorded a satirical music video and posted it on YouTube.

The song iscalled Si La Presse n'existait pas, or "If La Presse no longer existed." Aparody ofEt si tu n'existais pasby Joe Dassin, itimagines a world without the daily.

The video, featuring iconic photos and editorial cartoons from the paper, pays homage to recent investigative reports that have revealed allegations of collusion and corruption in the construction industry.

"Where would we read Foglia, Lagac, Petrowskiand Tremblay?" asks the song, referring to popular columnists. "There would be no obituaries word search puzzles or crosswords."

Sports reporter Richard Labb,the lead vocalist on the song, saidthe video was a way to blow off steam in the tense newsroom where staff is preparing for the worst.

"People are very worried," Labb said."This has been going on since last summer, and there hasn't been much progress."

The loss of the paper would be a big blow to democracy, Labb said.

"Just look at what the paper has done recently regarding all of the scoops at city hall and the wrongdoing over there," he said.

Management is seeking several concessions from the union, including the end of a four-day workweek for full-time pay.

Management has cuttravel expenses, and there are rumours it will take back employee BlackBerrys and laptop computers, Labb said.

"Let's just say that it's not a very good atmosphere at the paper because of all the rumours going around," he said.

The two sides were talking Thursday.

Management of the paper, a unit of Desmarais family-controlledPower Corp., could not be reached for comment.