CBC independence at stake.
by Samantha Bayard
OTTAWA, May 8, 2013 (Straight Goods News) – New Democrats and labour unions
representing workers at Crown corporations have launched a a petition and a grassroots campaign against legislation (Bill C-60) that would grant the Treasury Board sweeping powers to intervene in the terms and conditions of employment for workers and managers at Crown corporations.
New Democrat labour critic Alexandre Boulerice held a news conference today with
representatives of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) to announce the campaign.
"Bill C-60 is yet another attack against all Canadian workers — union and non-union
alike," said Boulerice. "It is a serious threat to the independence of our Crown
corporations. C-60 strips key powers from the directors of corporations such as the CBC, VIA Rail and Canada Post. It is completely inappropriate that the Treasury Board would be empowered to step into a workplace and arbitrarily change the compensation of any worker without a union."
Boulerice said this potential for interference will affect the ability of these corporations
to retain high quality workers and offer reliable service.
In the House, Tom Mulcair said, "Over the last two years the Conservatives have
attacked collective bargaining rights: back-to-work legislation, bad faith bargaining,
burying unions in red tape. Now the Conservatives want to give the Treasury Board the
power to cut the salaries of non-union employees at crown corporations as well."
Marit Stiles, National Director of Public Policy and Communications for ACTRA,
discussed the impact of this intervention at the CBC. "Canada's national public broadcaster would be placed under the control of the government and become, for all intents and purposes, a state broadcaster."
Marit Stiles of ACTRA on the government intervention at the CBC
Boulerice said the Conservatives don't like the independence of the CBC and, "The
fact that the CBC can criticize their decisions."
It's really important CBC stay independent, not state TV or state radio –
Alexandre Boulerice
About Samantha Bayard
Samantha Bayard is a young journalist living and working out of Ottawa. She has been a contributor to the Straight Goods News family of websites since 2009. She is an avid cyclist and lover of animals.
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