TORONTO – Over 5,500 CBC employees who are members of the Canadian Media Guild are casting ballots today and tomorrow to give their bargaining unit a strike mandate. The CMG is urging its members to vote yes, saying that the CBC is “trying to guarantee maximum flexibility to hire and fire employees at its whim.” Talks have been ongoing since May 2004. The two sides are now meeting with a federally-appointed conciliator, which is expected to last until late in July. If no deal is reached the two sides have a 21-day “cooling off” period, during which they can continue...
