Earlier today your bargaining committee signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with The Canadian Press for a renewed collective agreement. The memo calls for a four-year deal.

Here are some of the highlights:

-Salary increases of 4.25% over four years , in addition to a cash signing bonus of $500 (pro-rated for part-time employees). There are also “escalator” clauses that could add up to an additional 1.5% over the term of the agreement if the company is able to generate new revenue.

-We have preserved pension benefits for all current plan participants. Members will receive interest on all money due to them under the Employee Payment Plan, and all plan payouts for departing members will be made.

-Part-time employees will have the same probation period as their full-time colleagues, i.e., the equivalent of three months’ full-time work down from six months.

-Employees who choose to stay past age 65 may maintain eligibility for health care and life insurance

-Layoff and recall provisions have been improved; national displacement (bumping) and recall is unchanged.

Once the MOA has been translated we will send the full text to all members. We will be holding membership meetings in all bureaus over the next couple of weeks, and the ratification vote soon thereafter.

We would like to thank you for your support, your feedback and your questions over the past several months.

 

Your bargaining team:

Riaz Ladha
Michel Lamarche
Terry Pedwell, president, CP/PMNA branch
Keith Maskell, CMG staff representative