Striking Canadian broadcasters launch online radio station
Monday, July 23, 2012
A handful of Canadian radio workers, who have been on strike for a month and miss being on-air, have launched their own online station.
It’s the “home of the seven striking radio employees from K100, 98.9 Big John FM and 93 CFBC,” as they proudly say.
This is the latest on a situation from late June, when Radio-Info.com reported, “Union workers strike three stations in Saint John, New Brunswick.”
That came after 10 months of the Canadian Media Guild being unable to reach a contract with owner MBS Radio, because many of its staffers are earning just over the minimum wage of $10 an hour.
The programming isn’t focused on the strike itself; the broadcasters say they just miss being on the air. Meanwhile, Robert Pace’s Maritime Broadcasting System is keeping its stations going using replacement workers.
Management's last offer was $10.58 to $12.98 per hour for 2012.
We the seven employees, which include on-air hosts as well as production and administrative staff at 98.9 Big John FM, K-100 and CFBC here in Saint John have been attempting to bargain a first collective agreement for over a year; soon after we voted to join the Canadian Media Guild. Our employer is Maritime Broadcasting System, which owns radio stations throughout the Maritimes.
In an effort to get back to work, we tabled new proposals that the management side rejected even before taking the time to read them. The main issues at the table include wages and pay for overtime work. Many of us earn just above minimum wage and are expected to perform unpaid overtime. There have been no cost-of-living increases for 12 years. Meanwhile, the Halifax-based company takes more than $1 million in profit out of Saint John every year.
Management's last offer was $10.58 to $12.98 per hour for 2012. We are asking for $12 to $17.21 per hour ....More Then Reasonable! .....More Then Fair
Hope they're successful. I never thought unionization was possible in private radio, but just SEVEN people for 3 stations making min wage and unpaid overtime.. --probably unpaid vacation too. Good God, no wonder they did!
Okay, I'll tell you what really pisses me off. And I know you didn't ask. When I see people on a national/major market broadcast, who 30-40 years ago would have been working in Peace River, Lloydminster or maybe Red Deer. Gawd some of these people are friggen awful. And there are pros out of work. I just don't get it.
First paid radio gig $500 a month! Left a job with Loomis making $1500! Second gig A whooping $750! Third $1200 and lots of promises...lasted two weeks and left after the promises all crashed and burned! Returned to the biz pulling down $1800...moved into management at $2500 and eventually was making $4400, not bad for the late 80's early 90's! Chopped, moved to PT in Vancouver and made more working PT (longest stint, 37 straight days) Moved to Mb. $45K and commission Moved to NWT $60K and bonuses Now out of the biz and yearning to get back! But, after seeing what those folks in the east are earning, I think I'll withdraw my app to MBS! Hell you make more driving a cab and even there OT is paid! Who owns a broadcast outlet that pays 101/2 to 121/2 bucks an hour? Must be ole Scrooge his-self!
This business used to be so much fun, and actually paid fairly well. Not huge money, but we got by, and enjoyed lotsa freebies! Today, my income is considered below the Low Income Standards set by HRDC, and I have 2 kids to feed and clothe. How can anyone with a family live off $10/hour...which is just over min wage? None of us want to to use govenment programs, but we have to. And yet our manager drives a friggin Escalade!
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