We met again with Shaw Media management last week. The Guild bargaining committee tabled a comprehensive salary proposal and told management that our members expect to share fairly in the value they create for their very profitable division of Shaw.

The Guild monetary proposal introduces salary scales into the collective agreement as well as brief descriptions of the core functions of each job. We also put forward a new pension provision that more closely mirrors the arrangement for other Shaw employees across the country.

We proposed a new article on maternity and parental leave to improve the existing policy and enshrine it in the collective agreement. The advantage of having things included in the agreement is that they can’t be changed without negotiation with us; any company policy that is not in the agreement can be changed at the drop of a hat.

At the end of the day Friday, the management team gave us what they called an “offer to settle all outstanding issues.” We will take the next few days to examine the three-page document more carefully. Our initial reading is that, on most issues, it is little different from the set of proposals they tabled on the first day of bargaining.

So far, the two teams have come to agreement in principle on six articles, including new provisions for training and development and leave without pay.

While we were in bargaining this week, news came down of the cut of 500 Shaw Communications jobs. We sought assurance that the cuts don’t affect Shaw Television operations in any way. Our thoughts are with our fellow workers out west who are losing their jobs.

We are scheduled to meet for two days next week. We will continue to keep you informed of the developments.

Your bargaining committee:

Mike Duong, branch president
Katy Boudreau
Sherisse White
Karen Wirsig, CMG staff
Keith Maskell, CMG staff representative