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Guild's Canadian Broadcast Members Vote to Strike
Angry about casual hiring practices, contracting out, overtime and other issues, members of The Newspaper Guild-CWA at the Canadian Broadcast Corporation have voted by a huge majority to strike if necessary.
A full two-thirds of the Canadian Media Guild unit of 5,500 on-air, production, technical and administrative staff cast ballots in mid-July, with 87 percent of them voting to strike.
"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," TNG-CWA/Canada Director Arnold Amber said.
The two sides have been at the table for more than a year to reach a single agreement covering all Guild members working at CBC outside Quebec. The employees were formerly in three separate bargaining units.
A major sticking point is the CBC's push for the ability to hire, without limitation, most new employees on a casual basis. Contracting out, employees' right to reassignment in the event of downsizing and overtime compensation are other key issues that remain unresolved.
Under Canadian law, the earliest a strike or lock out could be called is Aug. 15.
"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 said. "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."
A full two-thirds of the Canadian Media Guild unit of 5,500 on-air, production, technical and administrative staff cast ballots in mid-July, with 87 percent of them voting to strike.
"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," TNG-CWA/Canada Director Arnold Amber said.
The two sides have been at the table for more than a year to reach a single agreement covering all Guild members working at CBC outside Quebec. The employees were formerly in three separate bargaining units.
A major sticking point is the CBC's push for the ability to hire, without limitation, most new employees on a casual basis. Contracting out, employees' right to reassignment in the event of downsizing and overtime compensation are other key issues that remain unresolved.
Under Canadian law, the earliest a strike or lock out could be called is Aug. 15.
"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 said. "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."