Late last week, the Canadian Media Guild filed a grievance claiming the CBC violated the Memorandum of Agreement and the Return to Work Protocol signed by the parties in early October.

“Unfortunately, we have a fundamental disagreement over who is entitled to retroactive pay,” said Guild Senior Staff Representative, Dan Oldfield.

CBC management is insisting that, to receive retroactive pay, an employee must have returned to the CBC after the lockout. The Guild claims that all employees on the payroll at any time between April 1, 2004, and the end of the lockout should receive retroactive pay for the time they worked. CBC management’s approach would exclude any employee who retired, was laid-off, went on sick leave or did not return to work after the lockout.

The CMG and the CBC have agreed to expedite the arbitration hearing process in the event one is required.

The Guild has also grieved the CBC’s failure to pay some employees for October 7 and 10, 2005, in violation of the Return to Work protocol. Many temporary employees across the country were denied for those days, although they worked regularly before the lockout and returned to work on October 11.

We will keep you informed of all developments.