OTTAWA – The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union wants the CRTC to stop the layoffs at CHUM Television announced today – despite the fact the Commission has no such power.
"We think there is a direct link between this sale and the shut down yesterday (sic) of significant parts of CHUM’s news gathering capacity across the country," said Peter Murdoch, media vice-president of CEP Canada.
CHUM announced that 281 positions would be eliminated due to several show cancellations and reallocation of resources. Much of the savings will be applied to technology upgrades, says the company.
"Regulators need to intervene now to stop the sale and stop the lay off of hundreds of CHUM employees to protect the public interest," Murdoch added, saying the CRTC should re-open hearings on CHUM licenses if needs be.
The CRTC has no such power to intervene in such company matters but both it and the Competition Bureau will have a say on how and if the deal proceeds in due course.
CEP represents over 2,000 employees at the television networks involved in the proposed deal. Bell Globemedia owns CTV television.
The deal will lead to more media concentration in Canada, says the union, which it says has to be stopped. "Canadians and parliamentarians of all stripes have urged government to end the concentration of media ownership in this country. Well, now we’ll see who has more power in Canada: the people through their government or big corporate media," said Murdoch.
"The continual concentration of ownership has meant less diversity of voice, less quality programming, less local reflection, less jobs and more erosion of Canada’s unique voice reflected on our television screens. Canada already some of the worst levels of media concentration in the world. The implications for a democratic country are enormous.
"Canadians should take careful note: there are strong voices within the Harper Government which advocate allowing foreign ownership of our broadcasters," added Murdoch. "With this kind of concentration Canadian television could quickly be in the hands of a Houston oil baron or the right-wing Fox network."
The union will "do whatever it takes to protect both the public interest and the interests of CEP members at CTV, CHUM and other BGM properties," said the release.
"Whatever it takes," was not defined.
