TORONTO – The Canadian Media Guild didn’t like the latest contract offer from the CBC.
In a release today, CMG said “CBC management tabled a so-called comprehensive proposal late yesterday that is neither comprehensive nor a proposal. It is little more than a compilation of language rejected by the Guild bargaining committee and by our membership during the strike vote.”
CMG says the offer “includes the offensive language on employment status that, despite claims to the contrary, makes no commitment to maintain permanent staff but actually provides the ability to make virtually every future hire a contract employee,” says the release.
“The Corporation seeks to take away overtime, substantially reduce turnaround provisions, contract out our work simply because someone will do it more cheaply, eliminate severance pay, and abuse temporary employees.”
“The Guild,” continues the release, “is the only one of the two sides to have offered imaginative solutions. We introduced language on work-life balance, alternate work arrangements, deferred salary leave, a partnership in training and a national diversity initiative.
“Management’s strategy has become clear. It is not prepared to bargain. It has chosen instead to bully. Unfortunately, this has become a method of operation for the current leadership of the Corporation. It has already caused four major work stoppages at the CBC and Radio-Canada over the past six years.”
“The Corporation now tries to blame the slow pace of talks on the Guild. Don’t believe a word of it,” says the statement, circulated to all members. Management’s bargaining committee has “steadfastly refused to move on a single major issue,” it adds.
In violation of the Labour Code, says CMG, CBC says it continues to bargain directly with employees by emailing to every Guild member a package containing proposals never presented at the table and language already rejected.
“We have informed management we are always prepared to bargain a fair agreement but will not have a bad deal foisted upon us. The irresponsible behaviour of the management bargaining committee puts the future of public broadcasting in Canada at risk,” concludes the release.
