19 July 2005

CBC workers give big thumbs-up
to strike action

Canadian Media Guild | TNG Canada Local 30213

An overwhelming number of CBC employees are prepared to strike to get a fair contract with the public broadcaster.

After tallying the results of countrywide voting between July 8 and 14, the Canadian Media Guild reports today that 87.3 per cent said yes to a strike mandate.

"This is very strong support for the Guild and a flat rejection of the Corporation's vision of the future," says CBC branch president Arnold Amber, who is also Director of TNG Canada/CWA.

The Guild bargaining committee is especially encouraged by the large voter turnout; 67 per cent of employees, many on vacation, cast ballots. “This is an incredible accomplishment for a mid-summer vote and speaks volumes about the dissatisfaction our members are feeling with CBC management’s proposals,” adds Amber.

Before the vote, management encouraged employees to compare language both sides have placed on the table.

"The strategy worked to our advantage because most voters agreed with our vision of the future," says CMG chief negotiator Dan Oldfield. "Ongoing work must be performed by permanent employees, allowing people to choose careers over short-term contracts."

A major sticking point in the negotiations continues to be the CBC's push to hire, without limitation, most new employees on a casual basis. Contracting out, employees' right to reassignment in the event of downsizing, and compensation for overtime are other key issues that remain unresolved.

According to federal law, the earliest a strike or lock-out could be called is Aug. 15.

The two sides have been at the table for about 18 months to reach a single collective agreement covering, for the first time, 5,500 on-air, production, technical and administrative employees working at CBC outside Quebec. The employees were formerly in three separate bargaining units.

"We want to use this strong mandate in the weeks ahead to get a deal at the table and we're prepared to work around the clock to do so," Amber says. "The Guild has never been on strike at the CBC. But I've been negotiating for 25 years and this is the worst set of proposals I have ever seen from the Corporation."

The two sides are now back at the bargaining table and continue to work with a federal mediator. Bargaining updates and other information about the negotiations are available at the Canadian Media Guild web site.