MONTREAL – The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has ruled in favour of CBC/Radio-Canada's application for a review of the bargaining unit structure for employees working in the province of Quebec and the city of Moncton, NB.
That structure, in place since 1995, consists of four bargaining units representing nearly 3,000 employees: Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), affiliated with the CSN; Syndicat des technicien(ne)s et artisan(e)s du réseau français de Radio-Canada (STARF); Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP); and Association des réalisateurs (AR). Two other units, the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) and the Association des professionnels et des superviseurs (APS), also represent CBC/Radio-Canada employees, but are not affected by the application.
CBC/Radio-Canada says in a post on its website that it would like to streamline its union structure in order to “succeed in today's highly competitive environment and properly meet audience expectations”.
The ‘pubcaster and the four existing bargaining units now have 90 days to come to an agreement on creation of the new union structure. If they reach an agreement, the CIRB may determine that the proposed structure is appropriate and rule accordingly. If an agreement cannot be reached, the CIRB will summon all parties involved and hear their arguments for the desired structure. At the conclusion of those arguments, the CIRB will rule on the new union structure.
Whether subsequent to an agreement reached by the parties or a CIRB decision on the new union structure, unionized employees will vote on which bargaining unit(s) will represent them within the new structure.
