2012.06.25 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild
Joseph Comeau photo
Liberal MP Justin Trudeau chats with Gary Stackhouse on Wednesday.
Karen Wirsig photo
Guild members set up picket lines at 8 a.m. today in Saint John.
Employees on strike at 3 Saint John radio stations
Employees at three MBS Radio stations in Saint John went on strike this morning after being stonewalled for almost a year in their attempts to negotiate a first contract.
Many of the employees earn just above minimum wage and are expected to perform unpaid overtime. There have been no cost-of-living increases for 12 years. Meanwhile, the Halifax-based company takes more than $1 million in profit out of Saint John every year.
Gary Stackhouse, president of the Canadian Media Guild's newest unit, says they are "pumped by support from our listeners and the people of Saint John. Our best shot at getting through to this company is to speak together with one loud voice."
A rally in support of the striking workers will be held at noon Wednesday at 201 Union St.
Employees at Big John, K-100 and CFBC have gone 12 years without an across-the-board wage increase. Some of the employees hired in recent years are earning as much as one-third less than the people who did the jobs before them.
Stackhouse told CBC New Brunswick that the company's last offer was $10.58 an hour to start. "Our wage proposal, which they are calling unreasonable and unsustainable, starts at $12 an hour and tops out at $17.21."
In addition to listeners standing behind them — more than 3,500 people have signed up on their Facebook page — "we have been buoyed by the support from Guild members across Canada," says Stackhouse.
Follow developments on the CMG website and on Twitter: @cmgatmbs .
Video courtesy Canadian Media Guild
Gary Stackhouse, the host of the "Big John" morning show, and president of the Guild at MBS Radio in Saint John, attended the CMG national convention in Toronto at the end of May. Delegates from across the country pledged support for their media colleagues.
For interviews or more information, contact Dan Oldfield, CMG Senior Staff Rep (dan@cmg.ca) at 416-347-2093 or Karen Wirsig, CMG Communications Co-ordinator (karen@cmg.ca) at 1-800-465-4149.