TORONTO – While the CBC and the Canadian Media Guild have made some progress and signed off on a few items over the last two weeks of talks, there are still 18 outstanding items remaining on the table – including all of the key issues.
The list of unresolved issues is as follows, says the Corp.:
* Employee Status/Contract Employees
* Workforce Adjustment/Demonstrated Occupational Qualifications (DOQ)
* Contracting Out
* Severance Pay at Retirement
* Job Evaluation
* Purpose and Intent of Collective Agreement – Interpretation
* Program Managers
* Salary Provisions
* Premiums
* Corporation Seniority
* Temporary Employees
* Freelancers/Joint Committee
* On-Call
* Definition of Terms
* Hours of Work/Overtime
* Annual Leave
* Former CMG Contract
* Appendices to be deleted
“On a number of these issues, including items like annual leave and program managers, CBC has proposed status quo or better for employees,” says the CBC.
“With 18 issues still remaining and nearly five weeks into the labour disruption, CBC is concerned with the current slow pace at the table, particularly on the key issues. Nearly all of the remaining issues are important ones, and the fundamental matters at the table – including contract employees, contracting out, demonstrated occupational qualification and job evaluation, among others – will require concentrated time in order to reach agreement. CBC is committed to bargaining and will do everything possible to try to reach a deal so we can all get back to work as soon as possible.”
Talks are proceeding through the weekend.
While all this is going on, the CBC was forced to abandon coverage of a Terry Fox event in St. John’s, as reported by www.cartt.ca, and has now said it won’t cover the swearing in of the new Governor General – former CBCer Michaele Jean – on September 27th.
“Out of respect for the Canadian public, the office of the Governor General and the ceremony itself, CBC/Radio-Canada felt that this was the most appropriate decision,” said a CBC release.
