2012.03.26 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild
Members at Canadian Press ratify new contract
Members of the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) who work at The Canadian Press have ratified a new collective agreement that was achieved after standing together to reject concessions sought by the employer.
Almost 83 per cent of those voting between March 22 and today agreed to seal the deal forged for 240 reporters, photographers, editors, IT and office staff over the last four months.
Carmel Smyth, national president of the CMG, CWA Canada's largest Local, congratulated the CP members for hanging in there.
"You suffered months of uncertainty and an aggressively demoralizing campaign by company owners intent on cutting staff and salaries," wrote Smyth. "Instead of falling apart and being intimidated, you united behind your bargaining team, shared heartfelt emails to rally the troops, and stood your ground fighting to maintain the working conditions needed to support quality journalism."
CP, a news co-operative that officially became a for-profit company last summer, had wanted wage, pension and benefit concessions that would have taken millions of dollars from members' pockets. In the end, the company agreed to a modest wage increase while the union made reasonable concessions on benefits and pension repayment to give some financial relief.
When the tentative contract was reached earlier this month, CWA Canada Director Martin O'Hanlon, who is on leave from his job as parliamentary editor at CP, said the deal "demonstrates once again the power we have when we stand together.
"Over the years, CPers have sacrificed a lot to help the company. We know the new CP is facing financial challenges and we're willing to do our part, but the outrageous concessions they were demanding were a slap in the face and people said 'enough'. With this deal, hopefully we can move forward collaboratively for the good of the company and the members."
Highlights of the three-year deal:
- Across-the-board wage increases totalling four per cent over the life of the agreement, starting next year
- Maintains shift premiums and vacation entitlements
- Improvements to scheduling and hours for part-time employees
- Employees to pay 25 per cent of cost of health premiums and 100 per cent of LTD premium; benefits paid under LTD will now be tax-free
- Pension payback remains in place, but temporary relief to the employer on interest payments