2012.02.22 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild
Newsroom workers at Halifax radio station sign union cards
A majority of employees at a radio hub newsroom in Halifax has signed cards to join the Canadian Media Guild, CWA Canada's largest Local.
This will be a fourth radio station owned by Maritime Broadcasting System (MBS) at which the CMG will represent workers. Last year, 11 on-air staff at three MBS stations in Saint John, NB, (K-100, 98.9 Big John FM and 93 CFBC) were certified as a bargaining unit; they are currently negotiating a first collective agreement.
The Halifax radio hub provides news to the 23 stations owned by MBS in Atlantic Canada. The CMG has filed the union cards with the Canada Industrial Relations Board and is seeking immediate certification.
Dave Bosveld, organizing director for CWA Canada, who along with CMG staff representative Gerry Whelan, provided guidance, says the employees felt they had little say at work.
"They would like to have some input on the way the station is being run," says Bosveld. "There are fairness problems and they also want to improve their working conditions." He hopes that, if employees at other MBS stations feel the same, they will contact him to get more information and assistance in forming a union.
The CMG represents 6,000 workers across Canada at 11 media organizations, including CBC/Radio-Canada employees in Saint John and workers at CJRC, a Cogeco-owned radio station in Gatineau, Quebec.
"We are committed to helping workers in private radio improve their working conditions," says Carmel Smyth, national president of the CMG. "We're proud of our newest members in Halifax in taking this step and joining with us."
Under federal labour law, a group of employees can receive union certification without a vote if more than 50 per cent of the members of the proposed bargaining unit have signed union cards.
For more information or to inquire about forming a union in your workplace, contact CWA Canada organizing director Dave Bosveld: dbosveld@cwa-scacanada.ca | 416-948-0539 | CWA Canada national office toll-free 1-877-486-4292.