Education Matters Online
News

Volume 4, Issue 1: October 3, 2005

”Until recently each of the three units were separate: Unit 1 (Programming and Production) included approximately 2300 reporters, editors, TV anchors, radio hosts, producers, associate producers, directors, associate directors, library and other production staff at the CBC. Unit 2 (Technical and Trades) included camera and satellite truck operators, videotape editors, video switchers, audio technicians, graphic artists and other technical staff. Unit 3 (General Administrative Unit) represented approximately 700 employees of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from coast to coast to coast in areas such as television commercial sales, finance, information technology and other support staff.

The three bargaining units were officially combined as of December 31, 2003, and the Guild is in the process of negotiating a single collective agreement to cover all its members at the CBC.” (Source: http://cmg.ca/cbcbranchhome.asp)

The major issue was that the corporation wants to be able to hire all new employees on a casual basis, which means that they won’t have access to benefits, job security or pensions.

Here is an excerpt from a document on the CMG website which explains the major issue in the contract negotiations:

Contract employment vs. permanent employment
To be absolutely clear, the Canadian Media Guild is not opposed to hiring employees under individual contracts. Existing contract employees provide an invaluable service and are very much a part of the CBC family. We have proposed language that would allow the Corporation to continue to hire non-permanent employees in specific situations but we also want to ensure they are hired and treated fairly.
Our position is and has always been: permanent people for permanent work. This is not a quest for a job for life. It is a way to ensure employees have access to the CBC pension and benefit plans and protection from unjust dismissal.
The CBC seeks to turn the clock back a quarter-century to be able to hire virtually all new employees on contract. It is trying to do a sales job on employees by misleading them.

Further information about the lockout can be found at CBC On the Line (Canadian Media Guild's Front Line News Magazine).

I attended a rally in Toronto on August 23 and one in London (August 31, see photos above) to march with locked out CMG members. Provincial office representatives were also at the August 23 Toronto rally. Several other District 11 members and Active Retired Members were also at the London rally.

Let us not take thought for our separate interests, but let us help one another.
(OSSTF Motto)

Disclaimer