On the surface, the union could not have been more divided. On Wednesday, CBC/Radio-Canada journalists, hosts and researchers in Quebec rejected management’s offer to end its eight-week lockout — by a vote of 502 to 500.

Looking deeper, union activists say they were divided only on whether or not to go back to work. Everyone shared a tremendous anger at CBC management.

Management’s latest offer included an eight per cent pay raise and proposals to create dozens of new permanent positions for long-time contractors. But it only began to address grievances that have simmered for years.

Enough

Jean-Hughes Roy’s Blogue site documents the lockout from a rank-and-filer’s point of view. Just before the vote, here is how he explained the divisions:

At the corner of St Jacques and Girouard, there’s a poster for the B-movie Enough is Enough. It cries out: “Everyone has their limits.” A great metaphor for the dispute on the eve of the general assembly. Tomorrow in Laval everyone will say, “Enough is enough,” but for different reasons.

Some have had enough of bad offers and believe that we can do better, while others have had enough of the endless negotiations and don’t think the offer’s going to get any better.

Some have had enough of management’s arrogance, while others have had enough of being off the job.

Some have had enough of their colleagues being neglected, while others have had enough of their families being neglected.

And so it was … a 50/50 split vote.

Equity

CBC/Radio-Canada journalists belong to two separate unions. The dispute is about equity across these two groups.

Most CBC journalists belong to the Canadian Media Guild. But the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC) represents all workers based at locations dominated by Radio-Canada versus CBC staff. These are the 1,400 locked-out workers in Quebec and Moncton, New Brunswick.

The SCRC workers are paid less, and management’s latest offer does not erase the gap. Just 49.7 per cent enjoy permanent employment status — compared to 65 per cent throughout the total CBC network. Almost half of the union members make less than $15,000 a year. Most of these low-paid workers are women.

Gender discrimination at Radio-Canada is considerable — though our national broadcaster is no paragon of equality in either official language. Figures from the CBC’s own employment equity report tell the story:

  • in Quebec, 66 per cent of male employees, but just 39 per cent of females, earn more than $45,000 a year; and
  • across Canada, almost 77 per cent of males, but just 53 per cent of females, earn more than $45,000.

The French-language union provides more startling numbers:

  • 59 women journalists earn on average $2,818 less than their 94 male colleagues;
  • 34 women interviewers earn on average $4,343 less than their 37 male counterparts;
  • 13 women announcers earn $13,928 less than their 34 male colleagues; and
  • 14 women hosts earn on average $16,885 less than their 11 male colleagues.

On gender equity, management offered to set up a pay equity panel with outside experts who would take up to a year to propose a plan.

Barely a Word

Since March 23, there have been no CBC/Radio-Canada productions from Quebec or Moncton. Radio is mostly music. TV features re-runs. Hockey games have no commentary. Scaled-back news is read by stumbling managers.

Imagine that Peter Mansbridge and Wendy Mesley had been walking a picket line for the last two months because CBC management had locked them out. That’s precisely the plight of their French-language counterparts.

The workers have found tremendous support throughout Quebec. A rally on May 6 attracted some of Quebec’s best-known artists and entertainers. But in the rest of Canada? It’s a huge story, and we’ve scarcely heard a word about it.

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists. She was the founding publisher of rabble.ca , wrote our advice column auntie.com and was co-host of one of our first podcasts called Reel Women....