The National Joint Grievance Committee at the CBC has settled some of the thirteen grievances that have come forward since last October.

The joint committee is made up of representatives of the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management, who held their second grievance meeting under the new collective agreement last week.

Two of the settlements resulted in members being placed in permanent positions. A number of other grievances were settled after positive discussions between the Guild and CBC management aimed at developing a more open dialogue on workplace conflicts and quicker resolution of disputes.

Four grievances have been referred to arbitration, although we are continuing to try to negotiate settlements on a couple of those before the arbitration hearing. One of the issues heading to arbitration involves the right to retroactive pay for some Guild members following last year’s lockout. The Guild claims that CBC management is violating the Memorandum of Agreement of last October by refusing to grant retroactive pay to employees who worked between April 1, 2004, and October 11, 2005.

The committee is also continuing to discuss the Corporation’s refusal to pay some temporary employees for October 7 and October 10, 2005, in accordance with the the Return to Work Protocol. If no agreement is reached, the arbitrator examining the retroactive pay issue will also hear arguments on the October 7 and 10 pay issue.

The joint National Grievance Committee will meet again in September.

In the meantime, the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management are continuing discussions on how to deal with unresolved grievances filed under the previous collective agreements. The parties have scheduled weekly meetings into July. Some of the grievances have been handed over to arbitrators.

For more information, contact the Guild (info@cmg.ca) at 416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149.

Your national grievance committee:
Gerry Jones, Chair
Philippe Bourbeau
Elaine Janes
Bob Waller
Karin Wells
Bruce May, CMG staff representative