The Strike of '62: historic run comes to end

Small city weekly left to break the story four days later

...Many families throughout the region have regarded the Record as their "family newspaper," and as such have continued as regular and faithful subscribers since the paper's first edition, looking forward each day to receiving their own copy to keep them posted on current events, here and abroad. In many homes, the Record has become an unbroken tradition handed down from father to son...Clippings of family mementoes, the breaking or binding of ties, the births, anniversaries and other 'personal' events have been treasured in family albums over the years...It is "like a friend who suddenly departs from our midst" and who would be welcomed back with open arms and cries of joy...It is hoped that the toast "Long Live The Record," heard at the paper's Diamond Jubilee in 1957, may once again be echoed 'round the Townships to the glory and satisfaction of the English-speaking citizens who have long looked upon it as their "daily guide," and to which they are rightfully entitled in this free and democratic world.

Our mechanical department union was affiliated with the Quebec labor organization, the CNTU (Confederation of National Trade Unions), which had a reputation for toughness. The "strangers" were apparently people from this organization, helping to man the picket line in support of the Record strikers. At one point, a truck tried to deliver a load of newsprint rolls to the Record building. It was blocked; there was a scuffle; blows were struck and the truck attacked. Police had to be called to keep the peace. No one was hurt, and there was no great damage, but most non-striking employees were told to stay home after that.

The strike was not a long one, and a settlement was eventually neogiated, but the relationship between the mechanical department and owner John Bassett Jr. was never quite the same as it had been.