Now two months old and counting, the strike at Ontario's public broadcaster shows no signs of a resolution.
Workers with the Canadian Media Guild are fighting for higher wages and stronger job protections, while TVO management — which answers to the Ford government — has said nothing since the union rejected its supposed "final offer" earlier this month.
According to reports, that offer included a wage increase of 7.5 per cent over three years — 3 per cent retroactive to 2022, 2.75 per cent in 2023 and 1.75 per cent in 2024 — as well as protections preventing the use of contracts to replace permanent and temporary workers.
"There is nothing unique at all about this work stoppage," said Steve Paikin, the longtime anchor of TVO's The Agenda, during a recent appearance on Village Media's Inside the Village podcast. "It's about money and it's about working conditions."
Paikin is a member of the guild's bargaining unit. Asked about the state of negotiations, he was hardly optimistic.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't look great at all, and I wish I had better news both for the people who were working at TVO and for the viewers who are missing having us on the air," he said. "There are no talks happening and there are no talks planned. So I'm not sure where that puts us right now, but it certainly is not encouraging."
During the work stoppage, Paikin is contributing a weekly column to The Trillium, Village Media's news source at Queen's Park. You can read his first two columns HERE and HERE.
Launched earlier this year, The Trillium delivers the major political headlines of the day while unpacking complex policy changes and digging deeper into key issues that impact every Ontarian. Our journalists also keep a close watch on legislative debates, question period, public appointments, lobbying activity and regulatory proposals.
The Trillium is a subscription-based news service designed especially for Queen’s Park stakeholders, including public servants, political staffers, business leaders, lobbyists and strategists. But the site also features free content, including Paikin’s new weekly column.
Click HERE to sign up for The Trillium's free afternoon email newsletter, The Trillium Wrap. Subscription information can be found HERE.
Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.
Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.
Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].
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