MBS STRIKE IS OVER BUT WORK STOPPAGE CONTINUES AS A LOCKOUT!
(Saint John, NB) The Canadian Media Guild has called an end to its 22 month strike by 7 unionized radio employees at Matimine Broadcasting Sysytem in Saint John, New Brunswick effective Monday May 12.
The employer MBS has however now informed the Guild that it will be LOCKING OUT the employees and not letting them return to work without a collective agreement.
...The Guild has filed a complaint with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board alleging that MBS has been bargaining in bad faith and is trying to break the union. The Labour Board will be hearing the Guild's complaint beginning on June 3. The Guild is asking the Labour Board to order MBS to bargain as required by law and to go if necessary to binding arbitration.
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services has meanwhile scheduled a meeting with the parties on Friday May 16 to try to bring about a settlement.
“Our goal remains what it has been since the start: a fair and reasonable collective agreement. That is what we will be seeking on May 16," said Gary Stackhouse, one of the seven strikers and president of the Private Radio Branch of the Guild.
ALMOST TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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