TORONTO – After a strike vote taken last week, CBC employees have overwhelmingly supported taking strike action if necessary to get a new contract.
The yes vote won 87.3% during the vote held between July 8 and July 14.
Canadian Media Guild, the CBC union, thanked members for “turning out in such large numbers to show their support for the union at the bargaining table.” Despite a large number on vacation, 67% turned in a ballot.
"This is very strong support for the Guild and a flat rejection of the Corporation’s vision of the future ," says CBC branch president Arnold Amber, in a press release.
"The strategy worked to our advantage because most voters agreed with our vision of the future. Ongoing work must be performed by permanent employees, allowing people to choose careers over short-term contracts," said CMG chief negotiator Dan Oldfield.
CBC, like any company, wants more flexibility when it comes to hiring and firing employees and also wants to be able to contract out more.
“A major sticking point in the negotiations continues to be the Corporation’s push to hire, without limitation, most new employees on a casual basis. Contracting out, employees’ right to reassignment in the event of downsizing, and compensation for overtime are other key issues that remain unresolved,” says today’s CMG press release.
With the vote tallied, the two sides are now working towards a deadline of August 15th, which is now the earliest a strike or lock out could be called, according to labour law.
"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 added. "The Guild has never been on strike at the CBC. But I’ve negotiating for 25 years and this is the worst set of proposals I have ever seen from the Corporation."
The two sides are now back at the bargaining table.
