TVO workers on strike with no talks looming

Unionized workers at TVOntario walked off the job on Monday, marking the first strike the public broadcaster has experienced. A total of 74 people, both on-air and off-air personnel, are on the picket lines. The employees have been without a contract since last October. Wages and job security are the main issues in the dispute. The previous contract features a clause that says if a temporary job exists after two years it becomes permanent and the worker gets the full benefit package TVO offers. The network wants the union to waive this right; the union refuses. The president of the TVO branch of the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) says accepting the request would permanently alter the operations of the network. “TVO would turn into an acquisitions house where it’s run by management and all employees on contract in perpetuity,” Meredith Martin told the Wire Report Thursday. The network has offered wage increases of 2.75, 2.5, 1.75, and 1.75 per cent over the term of the new contract. This is below the current level of inflation of 3.3 per cent. TVO workers were previously subject to Bill 124 which restricted provincial employees to a one per cent increase in wages. “I, for example, have been working at TVO for 22 years and I make 15 percent less than I did in 2012 in real dollars. So you can’t do that forever,” Martin stated. TVO did not make anyone available for an interview but referred to a statement issued at the time of the walkout. “We are happy to meet with CMG at any time and we remain confident that we can bring this to a resolution that works for both parties,” Jeffrey Orridge, CEO of the network was quoted as saying. “We look forward to continuing our work together to bring important current affair journalism and educational content to Ontarians.” Martin disagrees with that. There are no talks scheduled and the union was told that TVO’s chief negotiator was away at her cottage. The network also said CMG should not approach the table unless it lowered its demands, she added. “I don’t believe they’ve been bargaining in good faith up to this point and they seem to be giving different messages to the media from what their actions actually entail,” the local president said. The union said it was open to the appointment of an arbitrator but the government rejected that call. Both sides must agree to binding arbitration for it to take place. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

TVO workers on strike with no talks looming

News | August 24, 2023

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TVO workers on strike with no talks looming

News | August 24, 2023

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