2014.05.09 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild
MBS strike now a lockout as work stoppage continues
The Canadian Media Guild has called an end to a 22-month strike by seven employees at MBS Radio in Saint John, N.B., but the company is refusing to take the workers back.
MBS informed the Guild, a Local of CWA Canada, that it will be locking out the employees and not letting them return to work without a collective agreement.
The Guild agreed to return to work pending a complaint before the Canada Industrial Relations Board alleging that MBS has been bargaining in bad faith and is trying to break the union. The Labour Board will be hearing the complaint June 3. The Guild is asking the Labour Board to order MBS to bargain as required by law and to go to binding arbitration if necessary.
In the meantime, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services has scheduled a meeting with the parties for May 16 to try to bring about a settlement.
“Our goal remains what it has been since the start: a fair and reasonable collective agreement. That is what we will be seeking on May 16," said Gary Stackhouse, one of the seven strikers and president of the Private Radio Branch of the Guild.