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16 September 2004
Permanent jobs and careers on the
line
CBC bargaining update
Canadian
Media Guild | TNG Canada
Local 30213
In a single proposal the Corporation
has set the stage for the elimination of permanent
jobs at the CBC.
The Corporation seeks, without limitation, the power
to place on contract virtually all new employees in
departments such as news, current affairs, IT and sales
and marketing.
These contractual employees would have far fewer
rights under the collective agreement. They could
be terminated without cause. These new positions
would not be posted. Most would not come with a defined
work week; meal and break periods may not apply and
neither would days off and overtime.
In tabling this contract language,
the Corporation says the skills of existing employees
may not be transferable from one job to another.
New ideas, it says, come from new people. Further,
the Corporation says, "Young
people don't want jobs for life or pensions or benefits … It
makes it tough to attract talent."
The Corporation claims this proposal will have no
impact on existing permanent employees.
Nonsense.
- Imagine a workplace where a program
is cancelled and everyone who works on it is laid
off. A new show is created and the replacements are
the new contract employees. Eventually no permanent
staff members are left.
- Imagine a two-tier workplace where
a permanent employee works side by side with a
new contract employee who is paid a lower salary
and has fewer rights and benefits. This pits worker
against worker and weakens the ability to enforce
existing rights.
- Imagine a workplace where the only
way to advance your career is to give up your permanent
status and where temporary employees will never
become permanent.
Unions at the CBC have fought for and won the concept
that ongoing work should be performed by a permanent
workforce. We will not give this up. New programs and
new jobs have been successful because of the creativity
and versatility of existing staff.
After weeks of talking about the importance of a collaborative
negotiation based on trust and mutual interest, the
Corporation is now intent on confrontation. This proposal
shows contempt for employees who for years have demonstrated
their commitment to the CBC and to public broadcasting;
who have coped with massive change, becoming multi-
and cross-skilled; who went seven years without a wage
increase, endured major downsizing and have consistently
done more with less.
The CMG bargaining team recognizes the need for and
value of contract, temporary and freelance employees
in specific circumstances, but not at the price of
eliminating permanent jobs. We are ready to negotiate
a collective agreement based on real needs and interests.
We remain committed to building a new contract for
the future, one that will ensure real careers for
all our members.
(This story first appeared on the Canadian
Media Guild website.)
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