CBC workers fight cuts
Public broadcasting in Canada is also under attack. By April, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will have had its budget slashed by $400 million. More than 2000 workers will lose their jobs, including those with the news and current affairs departments.
These cuts are being implemented despite overwhelming public support for CBC. A poll commissioned by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting last June gave CBC a 70% approval rating. In another poll, 62% said the cuts weren't justified.
The biggest concern for the four unions representing staff workers is the contracting out of program production. CBC management says it needs a free hand to out-source. The unions, including the journalists' union, oppose this on the grounds that it will lead to job losses and privatisation by the back door.
After 17 months of bargaining, an agreement was reached last year between the unions and management that the CBC would continue with the production of a "significant majority" of news and "a majority" of information programming in house. — Pip Hinman