11 December 2003

Technical and operations staff at APTN
vote to join the Guild

Canadian Media Guild | TNG Canada Local 30213

By a strong majority, technical and operations employees at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network have voted to join the Canadian Media Guild.

The vote was held among 25 staff members including studio crew, directors, and maintenance technicians across the country. The ballots were counted by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The organizing drive began soon after the Guild negotiated a first contract covering about 20 news and current affairs employees at APTN in April. The deal gave those employees overtime rights, industry-level salary scales and job classifications for the first time.

"Today's vote result is really significant because it shows that one group of employees that didn't have a union contract saw the benefits for those who got a union contract earlier this year," says Gerry Whelan, the Guild staff representative who led the campaign. "People saw it was in their interest to join a union."

The Guild will hold a special meeting of new members early in the new year, when an executive and bargaining committee will be elected. Soon after, a bargaining survey will be distributed to all members to prepare for the first round of negotiations.

"On behalf of all members of the Guild, I'd like to welcome our newest members from APTN into the Guild, and we look forward to working together on issues of concern as soon as possible," says CMG president Lise Lareau. "APTN employees have spoken clearly, and we congratulate them for their commitment."

(This story first appeared on the Canadian Media Guild web site.)