Montra006c CUPE’s Provincial Council of the Communications Sector (Conseil provincial du secteur des communications (CPSC)) presented its position to the CRTC today on the possible acquisition of Radiomd0069a by the Groupe TVA. In a short but incisive speech, the CPSC spokesperson repeated the Council’s opposition to such a transaction. The union representatives consider that including Radiomd0069a in the Quebecor empire not only endangers the future of radio and the plurality of information sources, but they also question the true intentions of the purchaser. From several points of view, particularly in regard to additional resources, the TVA offer does not even equal that made by Astral Md0069a, which had been accepted in April, 2002.
“Throughout the hearings, it felt as though we were reliving the entire history of the Radiomutuel and Tlmd0069a merger, which resulted in the creation of Radiomd0069a. Today, the same players are making the same promises which were never realized for Radiomd0069a,” declared Gilles Mathieu, union representative for CUPE.
At the same time, and this is a major issue, the proposed purchase also puts the CRTC’s competence and credibility into question. In the beginning the purchase of Tlmd0069a’s AM stations and the FM Rock Dt0065nte network by Astral Md0069a received the support of the CRTC and the CKAC employees’ union, affiliated with CUPE. This transaction was perceived by most players as a step in the right direction for AM stations, in that it was a project to revitalize radio, initiated by radio and for radio.
Unfortunately, the Competition Bureau forced Astral to dispose of certain assets, which explains the offer to purchase the AM stations by the Groupe TVA Inc. The CPSC considers that the CRTC must reaffirm its mandate and respect its first opinion by preventing a transaction that will harm both radio and the public interest. “It’s a fundamental question: who will decide the future of radio broadcasting in this country, the CRTC or the Competition Bureau? The CRTC must assume its responsibilities, play its role in full and refuse to give in to the mercantile demands of the Competition Bureau,” concluded Gilles Mathieu.
In Qub0065c, CUPE represents 7000 members in the communications sector (Radio-Canada, Rs0065au TVA, Global, TQS, Radiomd0069a, Telus, Vido0074ron, Cogc006f, NFB, Journal de Qub0065c, etc.). CUPE is also active in several other sectors including health and social services, education, urban and air transportation, provincial corporations and public organizations, hydroelectricity and the municipalities. With close to 100,000 members, CUPE is the largest FTQ affiliate.
This press release and other information are posted on the Internet at scfp.qc.ca
“Throughout the hearings, it felt as though we were reliving the entire history of the Radiomutuel and Tlmd0069a merger, which resulted in the creation of Radiomd0069a. Today, the same players are making the same promises which were never realized for Radiomd0069a,” declared Gilles Mathieu, union representative for CUPE.
At the same time, and this is a major issue, the proposed purchase also puts the CRTC’s competence and credibility into question. In the beginning the purchase of Tlmd0069a’s AM stations and the FM Rock Dt0065nte network by Astral Md0069a received the support of the CRTC and the CKAC employees’ union, affiliated with CUPE. This transaction was perceived by most players as a step in the right direction for AM stations, in that it was a project to revitalize radio, initiated by radio and for radio.
Unfortunately, the Competition Bureau forced Astral to dispose of certain assets, which explains the offer to purchase the AM stations by the Groupe TVA Inc. The CPSC considers that the CRTC must reaffirm its mandate and respect its first opinion by preventing a transaction that will harm both radio and the public interest. “It’s a fundamental question: who will decide the future of radio broadcasting in this country, the CRTC or the Competition Bureau? The CRTC must assume its responsibilities, play its role in full and refuse to give in to the mercantile demands of the Competition Bureau,” concluded Gilles Mathieu.
In Qub0065c, CUPE represents 7000 members in the communications sector (Radio-Canada, Rs0065au TVA, Global, TQS, Radiomd0069a, Telus, Vido0074ron, Cogc006f, NFB, Journal de Qub0065c, etc.). CUPE is also active in several other sectors including health and social services, education, urban and air transportation, provincial corporations and public organizations, hydroelectricity and the municipalities. With close to 100,000 members, CUPE is the largest FTQ affiliate.
This press release and other information are posted on the Internet at scfp.qc.ca