Reviewing the union structure to better meet current requirements

The broadcasting landscape in 2012 is no longer what it was in the early 1990s, nor what anyone could have anticipated a decade ago. Technological advances – particularly in content production and delivery – ever-fiercer competition, and growing budget constraints, have forced us to rethink the way we do business.

To succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and adequately meet audience expectations, we need to streamline our structures so that we can react more quickly to a rapidly changing market. It’s in this spirit that CBC/Radio-Canada filed an application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on May 31 to review the bargaining unit structure for employees working in the province of Quebec or Moncton, NB.

On September 19, 2014, the CIRB ruled in favour of the application. It acknowledged that CBC/Radio-Canada cited serious and substantial reasons demonstrating that the existing bargaining unit structure has become obsolete in view of the new challenges faced by the Corporation. On May 15th, 2015, the CIRB ruled that the new French Services union structure will comprise two bargaining units. One of these units will represent members of CUPE 675, STARF-CUPE 5757 and the SCRC, while the other will represent Association des réalisateurs (AR) members.

On July 16th, 2015, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced the results of the vote concerning the merger of CUPE 675, STARF-CUPE 5757 and the SCRC. The SCRC (FNC-CSN) was chosen by 51,64% of employees eligible to vote.

CBC/Radio-Canada believes that this new, simplified structure will allow it to maintain harmonious, productive relations with its unionized employees. This reflects a commitment to providing a work environment that yields high-quality, leading-edge content while offering employees stimulating career and development opportunities. The Corporation wishes to operate more efficiently, in step with industry best practices.

The union structure covered by the review application

It consists of four bargaining units representing nearly 3,000 employees working in the province of Quebec and the city of Moncton:

  • Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), affiliated with the CSN
  • Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP), Local 675
  • Syndicat des technicien(ne)s et artisan(e)s du réseau français de Radio-Canada (STARF), SCFP Local 5757
  • Association des réalisateurs (AR)

Note: Two other units, the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) and the Association des professionnels et des superviseurs (APS), are not included in the application.

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