Post from CEP local 71m

[Colin R. Leech]

Forwarded from alt.tv.networks.cbc:

> Thank you, Hockey Fans!
>
> Please take a few minutes to read this handout so you will better understand
> just who we are and how we came to be on strike, and why we are trying not to
> inconvenience you, but we are trying to disrupt CBC's use of scab labour to
> produce this game. We love the Leafs too!
>
> Since the beginning of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, we, the
> Technical Crafts people at the CBC, have always striven to give you, the
> listening and viewing public, the images and sounds necessary to better
> understand the happenings of your world.
>
> Whether it was our cameras and microphones documenting war-torn Vietnam,
> the Gulf War conflict, the thrill of victory at sporting events like the
> Olympic Games, the heartache of the Manitoba flood, the devastation of the ice
> storm of '98, or the recent snowstorm in Toronto, whatever the occasion, it
> has always been us, the 2000 members of the Communications, Energy and
> Paperworkers Union, who have gone to the field, brought back the video
> footage, edited it and presented it to you on radio and television programs so
> that you could learn firsthand, from a Canadian point of view, what was
> happening out there.
>
> Beyond those working behind our cameras and editing equipment, there are
> many others of us who work every day and every night in the production studios
> of the CBC. Together, we work around the clock to bring you programming on
> CBC Radio, CBC Television, and CBC Newsworld.
>
> There are those of us who work in Set Design creating the vast numbers of
> TV backdrops used in the production of shows like the Royal Canadian Air
> Farce, the Olympic Games, The National News, the Juno Awards, Hockey Night In
> Canada, and all programs seen on CBC NewsWorld. These sets and the
> personalities who appear on them are brought to life by our lighting crews and
> Lighting Directors who are the leaders in their field in Canada.
>
> When it comes to 3D animations, computer graphics, clay animation,
> landscape painting, costume design and special effects, it is our highly-
> skilled crafts people who create the magic.
>
>
>
>
> On CBC Radio, it is again our people who travel the country recording the
> sounds of musicians, choirs and symphony orchestras. And each day, our radio
> crews undertake the production of all programming on CBC FM and AM with
> programs like Cross Country Checkup, As It Happens, Quirks and Quarks, This
> Morning.
>
> Last year, as in all previous years, our combined efforts as crafts people
> at the CBC continued to receive countless awards and worldwide acclaim for our
> work. In fact last year, CBC received more Gemini Nominations for our work
> than ever before.
>
> Unfortunately, however, the quality of our wages has not kept in tune with
> the quality of our work. The facts are indisputable! Our salaries at the CBC
> have now dropped to the point where they are amongst the lowest in the
> broadcasting industry. CBC's offer is not fair, realistic or competitive.
> Their offer would still see hundreds of our people making far less then others
> working in our industry.
>
> The reality is that during the past years, the wages paid to us by CBC,
> compared to the rest of the industry, have fallen by as much as 30 percent.
> Over the past 15 years over one third of our people have lost their jobs
> through nation wide layoffs. We need and require a firm guarantee that we
> will not again be subjected to unfair layoffs and indiscriminate outsourcing.
>
>
> When our contractual agreement expired last June, we were extremely hopeful
> that, together with the CBC, we would begin to address and correct the unfair
> imbalance of our lagging wages.
>
> In an effort to bring about these changes, we found ourselves this past
> February 16th with just minutes to go in final negotiations with CBC. At that
> time, they presented us with a financial offer of 0 percent in the first year
> and 3 percent in the second and third years. As in most business
> negotiations, we counter-proposed 5 percent in each of the 3 years.
>
>
> Their refusal to counter offer a wage settlement that was more inline with
> our needs has forced us to go on strike.
>
> We hope that having read this, you will understand why we cannot accept
> another year of receiving a 0 percent wage increase. That after 8 years of
> accepting miniscule wage increases we simply can not accept a total wage
> increase of less than one percent per year spread over 11 years.
>
> We look forward, in the future, to once again providing you with complete
> television and radio news, information programming, dramas, and of course,
> sports. Thank you for your support and understanding in this difficult time.
>
> Mike Sullivan, Chief Spokesperson, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers
> Union of Canada.

--
#### |\^/| Colin R. Leech ag414 or crl...@freenet.carleton.ca
#### _|\| |/|_ Civil engineer by training, transport planner by choice.
#### > < Opinions are my own. You may consider them shareware.
#### >_./|\._< "If you can't return a favour, pass it on." - A.L. Brown