Great Journalism Deserves Award

Great journalists we want you! In an effort to reward good journalism and to encourage more and better coverage of labour and social justice issues CMG and our parent union CWA-SCA Canada have teamed up with the esteemed Canadian Association of Journalists to offer one thousand dollars (and our gratitude) to a winning Journalist. Deadline to apply Jan 31, 2012. Apply at caj.ca. Good luck!

Workers Unite

If you are in a union, you have a say in how you are treated at work because you have a set of rules that the company and the union have agreed to, basically a collective agreement.
It sets out things like salary, working hours, shifts, annual leave and other practical information. Having this in writing gives staff a sense of confidence that everyone knows the rules and will be treated equally. It has taken years to get to the stage where we can hammer out these productive mutual agreements with employers. So its alarming to see the Harper government stepping in to order workers back to work; The Death of The Collective Agreement http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/3992/the-death-of-collective-bargaining.html
Equally concerning are suggestions the Conservative government wants to change Canada's 100 year old Labour Code.

Good Luck Canadian Press

A century ago a handful of intrepid journalists and like-minded citizens strung up telegraph lines across the country and started sharing the news. The Canadian Press has been telling Canadians what's happening since 1917. More than 200 journalists across the country now send copy, photos, video, and radio audio to Radio, TV, newspapers, and online media across Canada.
On top of being historically significant, CP is one of the largest single original sources of news (because so many media use their material) in Canada. Sadly this year is a stressful one with jobs cuts likely. CMG's CP President Terry Pedwell is working with the company on
ways to save jobs, and help ensure a long productive future for both staff and a great institution.

Shameful Relocation

Sad news over the holidays, as media giant (55 thousand staff worldwide) Thomson Reuters cut 22 jobs at its Toronto office; relocating the mostly IT work to India. Even more disappointing is the company is owned by the Toronto based Thomson family. How is that for a lump of coal in your stocking! Many of us worry about the declining quality of journalism as companies downsize
and find ways to move work to developing countries where labour is cheaper. On top of all of all of this new studies call IT Jobs most stressful . No wonder.