Halifax Chronicle Herald issues 20 layoff notices

The Halifax Chronicle Herald issued layoff notices to 20 unionized newspaper employees today in a bid to cut costs, the Canadian Press reports.
Herald CEO Mark Lever says the move was made because of declining advertising and sluggish revenues.
The company says the number of layoffs could be reduced if the union agrees to concessions on pension cost sharing, mileage and a planned wage increase.
Lever says the newspaper expanded its digital and print products, but they have not generated enough revenue to offset continuing losses in national advertising.
He says employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance packages as stipulated under the union contrac