A primer on negotiating a collective agreement at CBC/Radio-Canada
The CMG, and its predecessor unions, have had collective agreements with CBC/Radio-Canada since the 1950s. CMG has used an “Interest-Based Bargaining” approach to negotiations since 2009. It involves setting out issues and concerns from the union’s perspective, with management also bringing issues to the table, then seeking common interests and common ground to find provisions that work for both sides. It allows for full and open discussion about the issues we face in our workplace and our industry, with real players at the table (CBC workers and managers) as opposed to trading proposals through lawyers.
Our current collective agreement was ratified in 2024 and is set to expire on March 31, 2027. Our bargaining committee for the 2026-27 negotiations was announced on March 5, 2026. The talks are scheduled to begin in October, 2026. The 10 people below will be involved in day-to-day negotiations with the management negotiating team and are the key point people for the CMG during the process. But every elected person and every member has a role to play to ensure that we get the best possible collective agreement. Now is when solidarity between all of our members matters most.
Allan Gofenko is the CBC Branch Northern Director, and acting Local CMG President in Yellowknife. Allan has extensive local & national union experience over the last 25 years, & was on the 2014 bargaining team. Allan is a Switcher- Director at CBC, and has also worked for CBC HR.
Carmen Gutierrez is the Local CMG President in Vancouver, & serves as BC Director on the CBC Branch Executive Council. She has served on our National Grievance Committee for over 7 years, and has decades of experience as a Switcher-Director at CBC.
Joanne Levasseur is known as a solidarity booster in her role as Local CMG Vice President in Winnipeg. She works as an Investigative Unit Producer, and brings those analytical skills to the bargaining team.
Kat McMorrow, is the Local CMG President, and has previously served as Director of Precarious Workers in Toronto. She sits on several joint committees with management, and has worked as a Network Producer in a variety of roles. Kat is the Toronto Director on the CBC Branch Executive Council for a 5th year now. She was part of the 2024 Bargaining Team, and Developing Emerging Leaders class of 2018.
Saïda Ouchaou has led the Joint Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee through several transformative years, and is in her 3rd term as Director of Human Rights & Diversity on the CBC Branch Executive. She is an SRC Digital Producer, currently working in Toronto, but has spent years in Vancouver as Local CMG President & VP. Saida was a member of the 2024 Bargaining Team, and was the CBC Branch SRC Director for 2 terms previously.
Jagjit Panesar is a Chief Steward on the CMG Toronto LEC, was part of the 2024 Bargaining Team, and is a Supervising Stagehand in TBC Studios. Before coming to CBC, he negotiated several contracts for his CUPE local, where he was an active union leader. Jag is an advocate for safe and equitable working conditions, and is always willing to stand up for colleagues.
Elke Semerad is the Local CMG President in Ottawa, and the current BEC Director of Ontario. In Ottawa she works as a morning Radio Producer, but has extensive experience in CBC Atlantic stations. She has previously sat on the CBC Branch Executive Council, and sits on several joint committees.
Naomi Robinson is the national President of the CBC/Radio-Canada Branch of CMG. She’s been a news production editor since 1994, and has previously been CMG location unit president in Toronto for 3 terms, and chairs numerous joint committees. She was on the 2019 & 2024 Bargaining Teams.
Marianne Malo-Chenard is the CMG Staff Rep based in Edmonton, and was formerly the CBC Edmonton Local CMG President. She has experience as part of the 2014 & 2024 bargaining teams.
Matt Douglas is the Senior CMG Staff Rep, and formerly worked as a CMG member at the Zoomer branch. He was part of the CBC-CMG bargaining team in 2024, and has lead bargaining at numerous other workplaces across Canada.
Preparation for Bargaining
At the last CBC Branch Presidents Council or CBC Branch Convention prior to the anticipated start of bargaining, a discussion should be held to identify and discuss potential bargaining issues. This year, consultation will occur at the Presidents Council on May 25&26/26. These issues should form the basis of a membership bargaining survey. Once the survey has been written, Location Units should hold Location Meetings to identify bargaining issues, using the survey as a guideline for discussion. In addition, the Location Executive Committees should canvas their memberships in various work areas, classifications, etc. to gather any additional issues and concerns, and ensure all their members have completed the bargaining survey.
Communications During Bargaining
The CMG CBC Branch recognizes the importance of comprehensive consultation and communications with members at CBC/Radio-Canada on everything related to collective bargaining. Bargaining survey results will serve as a major indicator of what topics should be addressed in negotiations. Prior to establishing the final list of issues to be discussed in bargaining, the Bargaining Committee will consult with the Branch Executive Council and the Presidents Council. After this consultation, the Bargaining Committee will consider all input and devise a final list of bargaining issues. While it is recognized that the Bargaining Committee has the ultimate responsibility to determine its priorities, it will share the final list with the Branch Executive and the Presidents Council.
Throughout negotiations, the Bargaining Committee is encouraged to consult with members as required. Although this could result from any number of scenarios during discussions, such consultation might be especially relevant in dealing with issues identified by the employer where prior member and executive consultation has not taken place. The Bargaining Team will provide frequent updates to the full membership to identify topics that have been discussed to date, so that members have some visibility and the chance to contact the team with concerns. The Bargaining Team also commits to hold virtual town halls throughout bargaining, so that all members have the opportunity to provide current information and insight throughout the negotiations process.
When a definable group is affected by potential changes in their working conditions, those employees must be informed and consulted in advance of the conclusion of bargaining. In this event, every effort should be made to ensure that the consultation is held with a sufficiently large and diverse subgroup to provide the necessary feedback, in order to enable the bargaining committee to gauge the potential impact of the change as accurately as possible.
Tentative Deal
Once a tentative deal is reached, the Bargaining Committee should meet with the Presidents Council and the Branch Executive Council to explain the changes prior to the development and publication of the ratification package since they need to be prepared to field questions from members.
The feedback from the Presidents Council and the Branch Executive Council will help anticipate questions and concerns to be addressed in the ratification package. Those bodies shall ensure that the Bargaining Committee fully informs members of the details of the agreement prior to the ratification vote. A CMG staff communications person should assist with development and compilation of this package. In addition to the actual proposed language changes, it should also include a report from the Bargaining Committee explaining the context and expected impact of those changes.
Ratification
The final ratification package will be made available on the CMG website. Members will benotified by means of a communique of its availability, along with times of ratificationmeetings, and information on the voting process and dates.
The bargaining committee will coordinate the scheduling of ratification meetings with each location. Meetings may be held by a combination of virtual and in-person meetings, where such meetings are practical. When held in-person, Locations Executives will be responsible for setting up the meetings in consultation with the Bargaining Committee representatives who will be attending.
Strike
If the CMG bargaining committee feels that negotiations are at risk of breaking down, it may seek a strike mandate from members in an online vote. A strong strike mandate can help create a deal by showing the employer that members stand behind their bargaining committee. A strike can only be called if a majority of voting members support a strike mandate. The Canada Labour Code includes rules about the steps either side must follow to be in a legal strike or lockout position.
In the event an impasse in negotiations seems likely, the Bargaining Committee would make recommendations to the CMG’s National Executive Committee (NEC) concerning any proposed strike. The final decisions about a strike would be made by the Bargaining Committee in consultation with the Branch Executive Council and the NEC.
TIMELINE FOR BARGAINING
| March 5, 2026 | Announcement of Bargaining Committee (by email and on cmg.ca) |
| May 25-26, 2026 | Bargaining consultation at CBC Branch Presidents Council |
| June 8-22, 2026 | All-member survey launch Location unit meetings on bargaining issues, and promotion of all member participation in survey Location unit executives report back to Bargaining Committee on issues discussed at member meetings |
| June 22, 2026 | Survey closes at midnight ET |
| June 30, 2026 | Bargaining Committee meets to go over survey results and location unit consultations. Establish sub-committees and caucuses (i.e. North, temp/contract) Compilation of survey results and reports from location unit consultations and caucuses. |
| July 15, 2026 | Branch Executive Committee consultation |
| July 23, 2026 | Local Presidents Council consultation |
| Sept 1, 2026 | Bargaining Committee meets to finalize plans for bargaining communications & strategy |
| Sept 8, 2026 | Bargaining priorities communication material is shared with BEC and Presidents Council. Talking points sent to Location Unit Executives & Stewards |
| Sept 8-30, 2026 | Location unit meetings to report back to members on bargaining priorities |
| Oct 4-Dec 11, 2026 | 5 weeks of Bargaining |
| Jan 11-Mar, 2027 | More weeks of Bargaining as required |
| March 31, 2027 | Collective Agreement expiry date |