Workload was the major topic during the second week of bargaining for a new collective agreement at Canadian Press/Broadcast News to replace the one that expired December 31.

Your bargaining team relayed your concerns that the addition of yet another task, video, will further compound the problems CP-BN editorial employees already have coping with often conflicting demands. We’ve begun talking about how to deal with this complex issue in all its facets, including compensation.

We also reviewed the plans for reorganizing the Toronto newsroom and the implications for employees.

We discussed the new jobs that have been created in Toronto during the reorganization and began working on the issue of who should be considered managers and who should be in the bargaining unit.

We asked questions about CP’s plans to make increased use of stringers once CanWest leaves the co-operative, as expected this summer, and sought more information.

We reviewed the proposed new language on how night, overnight and weekend premiums will be paid at CP-BN. We expect this to be implemented within a few weeks and it will become part of the new agreement.

As we noted in our first communiqu?, we are proceeding with an interest-based approach to bargaining, where we identify concerns and find solutions that work for both sides. Over the next few months, these and other issues will be discussed by your bargaining team and members of the CP-BN management bargaining team. Our next meeting is scheduled for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 2

We will report regularly to you on progress at the talks.

Your bargaining team:
Scott Edmonds
Sylvain Larocque
Colin Perkel
Terry Pedwell
Ken Trimble
Kathy Viner