CBC locks out employees CBC locks out employees

[justinsb]

CBC locks out employees

Last Updated Mon, 15 Aug 2005 06:35:20 EDT
CBC News



The CBC locked out about 5,500 employees at 12:01 a.m. Monday after no substantial progress was made in last-minute bargaining between Canada's largest broadcaster and its union, the Canadian Media Guild.

The workers have been without a contract for more than a year, with the CBC saying it needs more flexibility to hire new staff on a contract basis instead of full-time.

The CMG, which represents producers, newsroom staff and technicians, says 30 per cent of the CBC's workforce is already non-permanent, giving the network all the flexibility it needs.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/08/14/CBC_locks_out_employees20050815.html

[suffragette]

1. I was wondering why BBC news was on CBUT

at 6pm, instead of the regular news crew.
Guess that must be the reason.

[CHIMO]

2. CBC operating on autopilot

Toronto — Two days into its controversial lockout of 5,500 unionized employees, the CBC has been operating on autopilot with plenty of reruns and pared-down programs.

But the most noticeable change has been the absence of any apparent effort to mount a management-produced television newscast, relying in prime time and over the supper hour on imported feeds of the BBC World News service.

“That's certainly the plan right now,” Jason MacDonald, the CBC's official spokesman, said Tuesday of the news programming from the public broadcaster, although another publicist suggested it wasn't the network's original plan.

“The BBC as lockout-breaker. It's a very interesting model,” said Ian Morrison, spokesman for the independent media watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050816.wceeb0816/BNStory/Entertainment/

The CBC doesn't seem to have much incentive to settle. Just imagine the money that they will save.

[justinsb]

4. There are some calling for the CBC

To return any money they save on salaries from the lockout to the federal government. I think it's a good idea, they shouldn't be allowed to expand their budget by taking it from the pockets of their employees. Since this is the 5th work stoppage under current management I fear that may be the strategy.

[justinsb]

5. I started another thread on this

but there are rumors (that sound fairly realistic) about CBC journalists going back to journalism and webcasting it. Which would mean that the locked out workers would continue to provide news, while the CBC airs repeats of the antiques roadshow.

[Telly Savalas]

3. Ah shit! I guess this means no more new Rick Mercer for a while?