CBC Lockout Prince George

More details on the ratification of the deal

2005-10-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

The following is an article clipped from the CBContheline.ca website, please see their site for further details.

CMG and CBC sign back-to-work protocol

Locked out CBC employees will be back on salary as of Friday and will also be paid for Thanksgiving Monday even though most won't return to work until next Tuesday.

The provision is contained in a back-to-work protocol signed by the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management on Tuesday.
The agreement assumes CMG members will ratify the agreement-in-principle in voting across the country from Thursday until Sunday.

Also in the protocol:

-- CBC managers have agreed to deposit the $1,000 signing bonus in employees' accounts by the end of next Wednesday. Anyone on the CBC payroll as of Aug. 14 – including casual employees who worked at least 13 weeks between April 1, 2004 and Aug. 14, 2005 – will get the signing bonus.

-- Some maintenance technicians, IT employees and schedulers will be asked to return to work this week to put equipment in working order and to schedule shifts. Hockey Night in Canada and CFL on CBC will also be asked to return early, which will be voluntary. Picket lines at CBC facilities will be told to let the workers in.

-- Employees who have commitments that put them in conflict with returning to work on Tuesday will have some leeway in terms of when they return to work. On the basis that they are legitimate requests, people will be allowed to use up to 2 weeks of time-off-in-lieu and/or annual leave to bridge the time required.

-- Retroactivity on the salary increases will be paid in a lump sum by October 27. Retroactivity will be paid on all time worked between April 1, 2004, and the date of return to work. All employees will receive payment, including temporary and casual. Freelance employees who have, in the same period, contributed on 45 occasions -- or earned $10,000 or more from at least 12 contributions -- will receive $500.

The full text of the protocol is available at http://www.cmg.ca/cbcnegsReturn-to-work.pdf

And the final few pictures, they get 'zany...'

2005-10-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

We're REALLY happy to be getting back to work!

More Pictures!

2005-10-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

More final day excitment!

Last Day of Lockout Pictures!!!

2005-10-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

As we officially say goodbye to the lockout, let us regale you with these dramatic pictures from the picket line, IT'S OVER!! We'll be back on the air by the middle of next week.

DEAL SIGNED!!!!!!!

2005-10-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's time to put the rumours to rest... The lockout will be over by the end of this week! We here in Prince George hope to be back on the air as soon as possible, I'll update you at this site when we confirm a date. Here is the latest posting and information from the CBContheline website:

CMG and CBC sign back-to-work protocol

Locked out CBC employees will be back on salary as of Friday and will also be paid for Thanksgiving Monday even though most won't return to work until next Tuesday.

The provision is contained in a back-to-work protocol signed by the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management on Tuesday.
The agreement assumes CMG members will ratify the agreement-in-principle in voting across the country from Thursday until Sunday.
Also in the protocol:

-- CBC managers have agreed to deposit the $1,000 signing bonus in employees' accounts by the end of next Wednesday. Anyone on the CBC payroll as of Aug. 14 – including casual employees who worked at least 13 weeks between April 1, 2004 and Aug. 14, 2005 – will get the signing bonus.

-- Some maintenance technicians, IT employees and schedulers will be asked to return to work this week to put equipment in working order and to schedule shifts. Hockey Night in Canada and CFL on CBC will also be asked to return early, which will be voluntary. Picket lines at CBC facilities will be told to let the workers in.

-- Employees who have commitments that put them in conflict with returning to work on Tuesday will have some leeway in terms of when they return to work. On the basis that they are legitimate requests, people will be allowed to use up to 2 weeks of time-off-in-lieu and/or annual leave to bridge the time required.

-- Retroactivity on the salary increases will be paid in a lump sum by October 27. Retroactivity will be paid on all time worked between April 1, 2004, and the date of return to work. All employees will receive payment, including temporary and casual. Freelance employees who have, in the same period, contributed on 45 occasions -- or earned $10,000 or more from at least 12 contributions -- will receive $500.

The full text of the protocol is available at http://www.cmg.ca/cbcnegsReturn-to-work.pdf

Thanks for all of your support throughout these difficult weeks.

Sincerely,

Andrea Palmer

More Pictures!

2005-10-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from last week's "Soup Day." The soup kept us nice and toasty on a cold lockout day! Karen Kwan made a stellar Italian Wedding soup and Andrea Palmer held up her end with a hearty borscht!

Update from the front lines...

2005-09-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your continued support as we begin day 44 of our lockout! The weather is getting colder but we're stamping our feet and staying warm on the Northern picket lines in Prince George and Prince Rupert.
I have some exciting news - for those of you who attended the Daybreak After Dark show in Prince Rupert and wish to relive it, and for those of us who missed it... We've got a radio broadcast date! CFUR (88.7 FM in Prince George, or stream it live over the internet at cfur.ca) Radio in Prince George is airing the whole she-bang on Wednesday afternoon (September 28th) at 1pm! The streaming address is http://www.cfur.ca/listen.shtml.

And here's an update on negotiations from the cbcontheline website:

Negotiators for the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management are bargaining in Hull, Que., after federal Labour Minister Joe Fontana scolded them for failing to hammer out a contract to end the six-week-old lockout.

In a strongly worded statement, Fontana said he expects the two sides, "without further delay," to find common ground and emerge from a hotel across the Ottawa River with a deal that will get CBC back to normal programming.

"Fifty-five hundred people have now been on the street for 43 days and Canadians have been deprived of the service to which they are entitled, because your committees can't reach a compromise. This is simply unacceptable, " he said in the statement released at his morning meeting with CBC and CMG negotiators.

"You all need to keep in mind that the CBC is a public institution, not the private playground of the union and management."

Fontana noted that he and other cabinet ministers have been "inundated" with complaints from people fed up the lockout. He added: "Canadians are starting to question the need for a public broadcaster."

Immediately after the meeting, the full CMG bargaining committee began talking with a management team that includes lead negotiator Stephen Satchel and vice-president George Smith. CBC president Robert Rabinovitch was at the meeting with Fontana but later said it would be be "inappropriate" for him to participate in subsequent bargaining.

After meeting both sides, Fontana issued the following statement:
"Both parties have demonstrated a willingness to resolve this dispute. They have agreed, at my invitation, to remain in the building and resume negotiations on the remaining issues with the assistance of our mediator and the Director General of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Labour Program. I will be meeting jointly with the parties later today to get a status of their talks."

Fontana tasked Elizabeth MacPherson, head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, to join the talks and push the two sides into agreement. Bargaining in past weeks – since management locked out 5,500 workers on Aug. 15 – have included two other federal mediators.
MacPherson has asked both sides to release only "limited information" to the media about the status of talks. Fontana was expected to check back on their progress following the afternoon Question Period – the first in the new session of Parliament.

In a scrum after Question Period, Fontana told a reporter from La Presse, "I'm locking the door. I told them, 'Sit here, you've got all the decision makers... if you in fact have all of the decision makers and you're dealing with a few issues... there's no reason why when everybody's here in the same room you don't stay."

Karen Wirsig, a spokeswoman for CMG, told On The Line that the union welcomes Fontana's involvement and hopes that it will bring quick agreement on a fair contract.

She noted that a similar federal intervention in 1996 resulted in a deal between management and a trio of CBC unions within three days.
In a statement, CBC management said it also welcomes Fontana's intervention and hopes it results in an "agreement that not only reflects the business realities and requirements of the broadcasting world, but at the same time respects the career aspirations of its employees."

The main sticking point has been management's proposal to dramatically increase the number of contract employees at the public broadcaster.

Thanks again for all your support and interest,

Andrea Palmer
Researcher and Casual Associate Producer, Daybreak, CBC Radio One

Support from Germany!

2005-09-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Prince George Picket line enjoyed a delightful visit and words of support from Annette Deist, a journalist from Inforadio, the public radio service in Berlin! Annette was sorry she could't come in and see our studio (we'd like to see it ourselves!) but took some pictures of us in front of the Victoria Street bureau and gave us many warm words of encouragement. Thank you!

-Andrea Palmer

Over the weekend...!

2005-09-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Well we've all had a busy weekend!

I spent Saturday at the Prince George Farmers' Market chatting with many listeners and CBC supporters! I would like to thank the almost-seventy people who signed postcards of support that we have sent off to Paul Martin (a very strong showing for Prince George!). My special thanks to Jovanka, the "Grape Lady" for hosting me at her table and several other vendors for their gracious support. I am hesitant to name them, as I was, after several hours, asked to leave the market by the marketing manager for being a 'political presence.' My apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced by my impropriety -it simply hadn't occured to me that I may be unwelcome, especially considering the live broadcast Daybreak held in the Farmers' Market in 2003 with a live political panel of local politicians and business owners discussing community issues. I respectfully withdrew, but must express my most heartfelt thanks to all our local supporters who showed be nothing but sympathy, goodwill and a sincere desire for public broadcasting to be back up on the air!

Russell Bowers had decidedly less politicised experience this weekend -but no less exciting! The ever perky Daybreak host played MC to the 2nd Annual North Pacific Cannery Road Race at the North Pacific Cannery in Port Edward on Saturday. The Cannery Road Race consisted of a 5k walk or run, 10k walk or run, or half marathon (that’s 21.1 k!) There was even a 1 k FREE fun run for kids! A good time was had by all and I'll post pictures as soon as I recieve them! Good work!

And finally, but not least of all, our other Daybreak host, the nomadic James Evans, spent the latter part of last week and the weekend in Calgary enjoying the comraderie of a big city picket line. He has arrived back in Prince George -refreshed and, regretably, sans cowboy hat. Perhaps next time he'll find a ten gallon that really fits.

NOW -for the negotiation updates. I think I have some good news! Our union is continuing in talks with CBC management, and it appears that they have come to some resolution regarding the toughest issue -that of contracting. Here's is the latest as exerpted from the cbcontheline.ca website:

CBC and CMG settle key issue of contracting out

Scratch "contracting out" off the list. Language regarding contracting out, one of the key issues keeping Canadian Media Guild workers locked out of their jobs, was agreed upon last night by the CMG and the CBC. This included wording regarding the process that follows any situation where contracting out results in layoffs.

According to the CBC negotiations update, contracting out (or "outsourcing", as it is sometimes called), "covers situations where the Corporation determines that work has to be performed outside." However,under the terms of the existing Collective Agreement, the process is in fact intended to be consultative in nature.

In May, 2005, the CMG filed a grievance against the CBC after it was announced that most of CBC's publicists would be laid off following the contracting out of the publicity and communications departments. The CMG argued that consultation did not take place. The affected publicists left their jobs in late June, and a private company was slated to take over the work. At that time, an arbitration hearing was scheduled for September.

The CMG said that during yesterday's negotiations CBC's chief negotiator stated that there are "no plans at the moment for any further contracting out."

Negotiations continue today, withfive more key issues to be settled. Today's agenda includes discussions on layoff and recall, as well as job evaluation.

Well that's good news to me, I have great hopes to be back at work withing the next couple weeks. I can't tell you how eager we all are to get Daybreak North back up on the air. We miss you, our listeners, and we all miss our favorite shows (especially Ideas, for my part!).

Cheers,

Andrea Palmer

Daybreak After Dark... A Success!

2005-09-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well last Friday's live, on-stage episode of Daybreak, "Daybreak After Dark," held in Prince Rupert's Tom Rooney Theatre was a resounding success! The theatre was filled to capacity and much laughter, hilarity and music was enjoyed by all! Thank you to our faithful North Coast listeners for supporting us at this event!

As promised, you can hear the show as a podcast, and soon you'll be able to get on the radio in Prince George (anywhere on cable or via the internet at cfur.ca) through the help of our good friends at CFUR, 88.7 FM the campus community radio station. here's a quick note from Russell:

Hi all,

Just a quick note. The Prince Rupert and Prince George crews got together last Friday to record a podcast of our own.

As you know, locked out CBC staff across the country have been doing these podcasts for the last few weeks, and we wanted let everyone know what CBC Radio means to listeners in Northern BC.

You can download it from
http://cbcunplugged.blogware.com/blog

or by downloading it from the podcasts available through iTunes.

Hope you enjoy it.
Russell

I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the show, but I'll be at the Prince George Farmers' market this Saturday handing out cards to be signed (the cards beseech attention from the Prime Minister and show audience support for Canada's national broadcasting future) and showing off my 8-month pregnant belly. It would be nice to go back to work before I go into labour! Anyway, I'll be with the 'Grape Lady,' you'll know us when you see us!

And finally, as to negotiations, my understanding is that the CBC and the CMG are still talking (this is good!) and are about halfway through the points of contention. Please search our links to the CBContheline website for more details.

Cheers,

Andrea Palmer

Daybreak After Dark -The Lineup!!!

2005-09-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

We're getting fancy -just check out that fabulous poster Leena put together! (Can you tell we're all getting antsy to get back to work?) -And have you ever seen such winsome gents as James Evans and Russell Bowers (Daybreak North hosts)?

All this pomp and circumstance is in preparation for Daybreak after Dark, Daybreak's return to popular conciousness via the stage at Prince Rupert's Tom Rooney Playhouse. The show is set for Friday night, doors open around 7:30 for the 8 pm show. Good news -it's free! Better news -check out this fabulous lineup:

8:00 Opening Monologue with your hosts Russell Bowers and James Evans

8:05 Interview with artists Tom and Kate

8:10 Two songs by tom And Kate

8:20 Rudy Kelly’s solo commentary on the CBC

8:27 Interview with Rudy Kelly

8:31 The Good Question Lady answers a dang good question.

8:36 Interview with Steve Merrick on the Cannery Road Race

8:42 News Update

8:45 Weather Hit with Ian Giesbrecht

8:47 Top Ten List with Russell and James

8:50 Tom And Kate with 2 more songs

8:55 INTERMISSION (15 minutes)

9:10 Beat the Onstage Gallery

9:13 Gary Coons talk (maybe- Nathan Culllen) - Teachers??

9:19 Karen Kwan roving with questions for Audience

9:24 Sall Gibson interview

9:30 A song by Sall Gibson

9:34 Play our Trivia contest

9:36 Song from Sall Gibson

9:39 Live comedy Skit from David Smook’s Troupe

9:47 Interview with the comedians

9:52 Announcement of Trivia Winner

9:53 A song poem by Leanne Boschman–Epp

9:58 Interview with Leanne Boschman-Epp

10:03 Sall Gibson plays another song

10:06 Russell and James wrap up show

Enjoy the show!!!

-Andrea Palmer, Daybreak Researcher and Casual Associate Producer and nearly a mom

The gang in Prince Rupert

2005-09-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

Most of the Daybreak crew spent the day on the picket line in Prince Rupert today. This might be the most feet on the CBC sidewalk in about ten years! Starting from the left we have Associate Producer Ian Geisbrecht, Acting Producer Alannah Stuart, Host Russell Bowers, Daybreak After Dark coordinator and Casual Associate Producer Leena Minifie, Host James Evans and the happy smile of Reporter Karen Kwan.

In addition to picketing, everyone has been hard at work getting ready for the Friday night festivities at the Tom Rooney PLayhouse. Please check out my previous blog entry for all the details on Daybreak After Dark, Daybreak's official stage debut.

In tomorrow's entry I'll bring more details on the show as well as a summary of the CMG/CBC negotiations to date.

Thanks for tuning in!

-Andrea Palmer, Daybreak Researcher and Casual Associate Producer

Daybreak on stage (and sort-of on the air)!!!!!!

2005-09-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great long weekend and is enjoying the lovely beginnings of fall weather! We've had some gorgeous days to punctuate the few less-stellar ones, and this coming weekend looks promising!

I have some VERY exciting news for Daybreak fans. We have a special event coming up this Friday, September 9th in Prince Rupert. The whole gang (except for me, I'm too pregnant! sigh...) will be at the Tom Rooney Playhouse for a Daybreak live show! Here are the details:

Your locked out CBC staff from Prince Rupert and Prince George will be back in action for one night to present you with Daybreak After Dark! We take ourmorning show to the live stage with Russell Bowers and James Evans as your hosts. We’ll be entertaining you with some of Prince Rupert’s finest talent in music, theatre and poetry, as well as letting you know what’s happening with the lock-out. The event will take place at the Tom Rooney Playhouse on September the 9th starting at 8:00 pm.

Performers include: Prince Rupert’s singer/songwriter Sall Gibson as well as newcomers to Prince Rupert’s music scene Tom and Kate. Leanne Boschman-Epp will be performing a sound poem. David Smook will be leading the local improv troupe in some live comedy, and Rudy Kelly will be providing a solo commentary. There will be our ever so popular trivia contest with a mug give away and the Good Question Lady will be making an appearance. All this will be happening in the support of your local Canadian Media Guild members who have been locked out since August 15 by CBC management and this show will be dedicated to our dear and loyal listeners.

Many people have donated their time and equipment to make this event happen, and to show our appreciation, we are making this a free event.Digital Printing and Creations has donated their services for this event. The Harbour Theatre Society has donated the space at the Tom Rooney Playhouse. Cowpuccino's Coffee House has provided the event with coffee and Baker Boy is supplying us with donations of donuts for the show.

Also this show will be airing on CFUR 88.7fm, Prince George’s Campus Community radio station, in the near future. Go to www.cfur.ca for more details. This will be the first CBC unplugged podcast to take place in NorthernBC. You can download all podcasts that are being made by CMG members bygoing to:
http://cbcunplugged.blogware.com/blog/Podcasts/Vancouver

For more information:

Where: Tom Rooney Playhouse"
When: 8:00 PM, Friday, September 9
Who: CBC Employees from PR And PG
*****Free Admission!!
For more details please call the Daybreak After Dark Coordinator, Leena, at (250) 624-2646

I hope the theatre is as full of Daybreak listeners as it will be of laughter and good times!

And for those of you in and around Prince George -Don't forget that this Sunday, September 11th is the day for a great afternoon of music with the Pops in the Park presentation form the Prince George Symphony Orchestra! Rediscover this Prince George tradition at the bandshell in Fort George Park. It's a FREE concert featuring light classics, showtunes and music from the movies! The concert starts at 2pm.

Cheers,

Andrea Palmer

Labour Day Rally & BBQ!

2005-09-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Labour Day weekend!

I know this is a great weekend for getting away, but if you're in Prince George on Labour Day -Monday, September 5th, I'd like to invite you all to a Labour Day Rally and Barbecue our compatriots at Telus are throwing. This is a family event, everyone is welcome. The fun starts at 1 pm and runs until 3 in the afternoon.

Come out in support of the TWU members locked out by Telus and CMG members locked out by the CBC! We'll be out in front of the Telus building at 1340 6th Avenue in sunny downtown Prince George.

Don't forget the Labour Movement brought you this very weekend!

Enjoy,

Andrea Palmer

The past week...

2005-09-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
Well, we've had quite a week on the lockout line -between the rain, wind and sudden bursts of sunshine, we've learned a lot about layering and creative ways to stay positve (we now more about eachothers lives than one would think possible!).
Last weekend's Lockout Barbecue was great success! I've attached some pictures of the event. On the top are two fabulous local musicians and CBC favourites. Broek Bosma (violin) and Raghu Lokanathan (accordion) entertained the crowd. James Evans (Daybreak co-host) is cooking up some tasty treats for the crown on the bottom lefthand picture. That's me -pregnant and picketing in the top right!
Thanks to all of you who came out- we had almost eighty people on site throughout the afternoon, giving us good cheer and support -Thank you!
The CBC and the CMG (our union) are now negotiating -hopefully we will have great news for you soon. In the mean time, thanks for all your support and kindness.

Cheers,

Andrea Palmer

Welcome!

2005-08-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the front line! I'm Andrea Palmer -Researcher and Casual Associate Producer for Daybreak North on CBC Radio One. As you know, my work day is on hold at the moment -and I dearly look forward to getting back to work, back on the air. As we finish off our second week on the picket lines after being locked out by CBC management, we'd like to take the time now to thank all of our friends and listeners for their positive support and feedback (and for all those Timbits and treats!). It's a difficult time for everyone -we miss the regular radio shows as much as anyone (James Evans doesn't just wake himself up at 4am weekdays!).
This web log (blog) has been established as one more way for us to stay in contact with you for the duration of the labour dispute, and we welcome your comments. Check in regularly for updates, lockout news and a glimpse into our lives on the picket line. We'll be adding pictures and commentary regularly.

Our first big event is coming up on FRIDAY, AUGUST 26th. -We're hosting a Lockout Charity Barbecue form noon until 2pm at the CBC office at 1268 Victoria Street (right beside Tim Hortons) in Prince George. James will be cooking up some burgers and hot dogs -and dispensing interesting facts and witty repartee. All proceeds will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Hope to see you there! The pictures will be up by Monday. Cheers!