Mediator named for Journal lockout

Quebec's Labour Minister Sam Hamad has appointed a mediator to lead negotiations in the Journal de Montral lockout.

The minister announced Monday that Jean Poirier will mediate between the union representing locked-out employees and the daily newspaper's parent company, Quebecor.

Poirier was chosen because of his experience in mediation and the role he played in ending the labour dispute at the Journal de Qubec in 2008.

"Both parties have been working for several weeks to try to restart negotiations," said Hamad, in a written statement.

"We believe this is the right time to nominate a special mediator," added the minister.

Editorial employees at the Journal de Montral have been locked out since January 2009, although the newspaper has continued to publish with managers working in the newsroom.

Wages and job flexibility are the main sticking points in the negotiations.

Locked-out employees have continued to publish news on an independent website called Rue Frontenac.