Montra006c, Sunday, September 21, 2003 At a general meeting, Global TV employees, affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE-FTQ), voted 78% to reject the package offered by the employer, who referred to it as final. The members also voted in favour of pressure tactics, if necessary, to go as far as an indefinite general strike.
During the final bargaining meeting, held in the presence of a conciliator, the parties were not able to arrive at an agreement. The impasse occurred when the employer refused to continue the talks. Bargaining bogged down over the employers demand concerning employee transfers.
Globals management is still trying to obtain a clause, which would allow them to transfer employees from one branch to another, a clause the members refuse. We will not be shifted around like pawns at our employers whim. Such a clause would threaten working conditions and, ultimately, unionized jobs. The employer wants to have the right to fire us if we refuse a transfer! said Stp0068ane Par,0020president of CUPE 4502.
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