Unifor Local 1996-O

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CFRB staff ratify first contract

Producers and technicians at Toronto radio station CFRB-AM Newstalk 1010 have ratified their first collective agreement, achieving significant wage increases for the lowest-paid staff.

“These first contract talks were about addressing inequities in the workplace, and we have begun to do that,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

“I am proud to welcome these media workers to the Unifor family.”

The bargaining team was able to defeat company efforts to cut the compensation of higher-paid employees. The 12 members of Unifor Local 723-M ratified the collective agreement online last week.

The deal includes gains for several lower-paid producers and board operators of $1 per hour right away and $2 over the life of the deal. The lowest-paid employee will see an increase of $5 per hour over the three-year collective agreement.

Several casual employees working regular hours were recognized as regular full or regular part time employees, meaning annual bonuses, benefits, and pension.

“This deal was made possible due to the determination of the bargaining team, the support of the membership and incredible solidarity from other CTV locals who delivered the message to the employer at their own bargaining tables they weren’t settling without a fair deal for CFRB,” said Unifor Media Director Howard Law.

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Don’t Sell NL campaign launched to oppose Furey austerity measures

Unifor has launched a new ‘Don’t Sell NL’ campaign in opposition to austerity measures proposed in The Big Reset report by Premier Andrew Furey’s Economic Recovery Team.

“The Big Reset recommendations focus on cutting jobs, slashing health care and other services, selling off and privatizing public assets, and other punishing austerity measures,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Linda MacNeil.

“If allowed to happen, these measures will stifle economic growth, put control of public assets and services in the hands of corporations, and force young people and working families to relocate out of province.”

The new campaign calls on members to stop the Furey government from implementing recommendations that would sell away valuable assets owned by the citizens, sell off vital public services to be run at a profit by private corporations, and sell out the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Read Unifor’s release on The Big Reset report here.

Unifor has joined a coalition of unions that represent members in Newfoundland and Labrador to unite workers across the province in the fight to prevent the proposed austerity measures from becoming policy. Political lobbying and additional actions are currently in the planning process with information forthcoming.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the economy, workers and families.

Newfoundland and Labrador needs increased investment in programs and growth sectors to stimulate recovery, not cuts that will move us backwards,” said MacNeil.

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Build Better Employment Insurance

Will you sign the petition to support building better EI?

Click here to sign

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the Canadian economy, workers and families.

Governments shut down businesses in order to curb the spread of the virus and save lives, leaving millions of laid off workers without income.

In March and April of last year alone, Canada lost nearly three (3) million jobs. Naturally, these workers turned to the one government program that was meant to help them during times of economic hardship—Employment Insurance (EI).

However, it soon became evident that Canada’s EI system, characterized by its restrictive eligibility criteria, low benefit rates and significant gaps in coverage, would not provide the safety net that unemployed workers needed.

EI only works when unemployed people can access it, but before COVID, only 40% of unemployed people were eligible.

This fact comes to no surprise for labour and community advocates – those championing fixes to restore EI benefits to protect workers, while modernizing it to reflect the realities of today’s increasingly precarious labour market.

Rebuilding Canada’s social safety net is a key component of building back better.

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Bell Craft Bargaining – Update #18

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Campaign Update

Information Bulletin #18

6/11/2021 -Sisters and Brothers,

After several months of intensive and rigorous negotiations, we have reached yet another impasse. Bargaining resumed on May 18th, as the Company had requested an extension to the conciliation process. As such, we continued to bargain these past four weeks with your priorities in mind.

Although the Company had made changes to their previous demands, in all reality, they never wanted to reach an agreement. They have made it very clear that their agenda is to further erode our bargaining unit. They would not address our priority demands such as allocation of work or contracting out. The company and committee did exchange proposals regarding job security, however, the cost was simply too high. The company was proposing concessionary items that would directly affect future sets of bargaining beyond November of 2024 and would deny the rights of employees or the union to file grievances under the threat of removing any negotiated job security.

The company refused to negotiate any further, when we refused to agree to their unreasonable and unfair terms.

That being said, we have been left with no choice but to focus on the need to resolve the essential services issue, in front of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. We will continue to provide updates as we work through this process. Our next step will be to meet with the bargaining caucus next Wednesday June 16th to explain in further detail what lead to impasse and encourage members to reach out to their locals.

We thank you for your patience and continued support during bargaining.

In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee

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