TVO branch of the
@CMGLaGuilde
(CWA Local 30213), representing workers who create
@TheAgenda
, The Thread, TVO Kids, TVO Learn, TVO Today, and TVO ILC.
We're thrilled to announce that as of this morning, TVO CMG members are back at work after 11 weeks. A huge thank-you to everyone who supported us, here and elsewhere!
The strike may be over, but this account isn't going dark. Keep following for updates going forward.
The three weeks of our strike have been a busy time in Ontario politics, but two key voices are missing from the conversation.
@spaikin
and
@jm_mcgrath
sat down to discuss the state of affairs
@tvo
and how they'd rather be making the
#onpoli
podcast right now.
#onpoli
We
@TVO_CMG
are officially on strike. We're sad it came to this, but after nine months of negotiations, it became clear that the sides were too far apart to reach a fair deal. We hope to come back to the jobs we love soon. Please
#SupportTVOWorkers
as we fight for a fair deal!
“If we don’t get it, shut it down!”
Our journalists and educators walked off the job this morning. We are on strike, demanding fair wages and an end to precarious work.
#summerofstrikes
#supporttvoworkers
#onpoli
Canadian Media Guild workers at TVO have been on strike for 25 days, fighting for fair pay and against a gig workforce.
This strike could have been averted by a real offer from TVO in the first place. Now that we're here, it can be ended in the same way.
#SupportTVOWorkers
Meet Gary, a regular guy with a regular job, who is making 15% less than he was 10 years ago.
If you'd like to help Gary and all
@TVO_CMG
workers, please call Premier Ford and ask him to grant binding arbitration 416-325-1941.
"I don’t believe that TVO should be operating as a hedge fund, trying to make money from investments. I think it should be increasing its services using the talented people it has on staff."
—
@DanDiMillo
at Queen's Park today in response to a question from
@jessiecatherine
Our members took the brave step of rejecting a TVO deal that would have kept our wage increases below inflation for more years. We've now been on strike for *seven weeks* and we need your help. Please consider donating to our fund here:
Imagine
@TheAgenda
's episode on Ford's decision to reverse Greenbelt development. And
@jm_mcgrath
's column(s).
@TVO_CMG
journalists are yearning for a fair deal so they can get back to work informing Ontarians.
If only TVO had some money somewhere...
Our hosts,
@namshine
,
@JeyanTVO
&
@jm_mcgrath
are out in full force.
It’s worth noting, here are the raises
@TVO_CMG
workers have been given by
@tvo
over the past decade:
-2012: 0%
-2013: 0%
-2014: 0%
-2015: 1.5%
-2016: 1.5%
-2017: 1%
-2018: 1%
-2019: 1%
-2020: 1%
-2021: 1%
“You have the public on your side” “We know this strike is historic. The work you do is essential.”- Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition
@maritstiles
#summerofstrikes
#onpoli
Our asks are reasonable. We want:
- fair wages after 10+ years of below-inflation wage increases
- permanent jobs, as per our collective agreement
@tvo
wants:
- our real wages to continue to erode during an affordability crisis
- to keep workers precarious
Good morning from Queen’s Park. At 9:15am your CMG/TVO journalists and educators will be holding a press conference as we enter week 7 of our strike.
Over the weekend we rejected TVO’s “final offer”, which offered minuscule wage increases after a decade plus of near frozen wages
We're calling on
@tvo
to consent to binding arbitration to resolve our strike, now into its _ninth_ week. We think binding arbitration is the fastest, and fairest, way to get us back to work. Like and retweet if you agree.
#FundTVOLikeitMatters
#onpoli
“It is absolutely the best-case scenario in my opinion for the government to step in at this time and give us binding arbitration — because, clearly, we’re not dealing with reasonable people.”
—
@meredithmartin
at Queen's Park this morning.
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
We've lost 15% of our wages from inflation over the last decade. TVO knew this, and decided to lock away $17,000,000 just before our collective agreement expired.
Here's what
@ebombicino
has to say about that!
#onPoli
#SupportTVOWorkers
TVO tucked this $17,000,000 into an investment account. What’s it waiting to spend this money on? TVO should be using its funding on educational material.
Run TVO like it matters.
#onpoli
#SummerOfStrikes
#FallOfFairDeals
Happy Fall & Autumn! It's week 6 of the TVO strike. We're in good spirits, but wish we could be making great educational content.
#SupportTVOWorkers
#FallOfFairDeals
No union walks the picket line alone.
Thank you,
@psac_afpc
, for showing solidarity in action. It is an honour to stand with you while we fight for a fair deal!
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
With rising inflation along with wages that don't keep up with the times, what's a Polkaroo to do?
Our members are fighting to keep their head above water after Bill 124. Polkaroo also heard that Monday will be their chance to talk to management! Let's hope they hear them out.
TVO needs to offer its workers a better deal! Our employer tells us to TRUST them while carrying out actions that attempt to silence us!
We at
@tvo_cmg
want to thank everyone for their support during this time. We are stronger together!
#onpoli
#supportTVOworkers
Thank you to everyone who has supported us these past 52 days!
If you are a TVO reader, listener, viewer, or learner please consider donating to our strike fund using the link below to support CMG members who have been on strike for 8 weeks.
#OntarioMade
During our strike, we're talking to Ontarians about why
@tvo
matters. In this video, journalist
@vmochama
talks about what excites her about her work & what she thinks Ontarians are missing while she's not on the job. Video by
@JeyanTVO
&
@chris_beaver
#FundTVOLikeitMatters
Every single person on the picket line has a story.
Meet curriculum specialist Shajgev:
“Especially as the school year has just started, I think we are needed more than ever in order to support teachers, students, and parents when it comes to education.”
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
Workers with
@TVO_CMG
are still on strike. We're asking for:
✅Fair wage increases after 10+ years of below-inflation raises
✅Permanent jobs for those who've worked at TVO for two years
Here are some of the things keeping us going:
✅lovely, supportive people
✅very good dogs
Once upon a time, there was a guy named Gary. He was a regular guy. A regular green guy.
All Gary wanted was to make a decent living and build a decent life.
But he couldn’t get a fair deal.
Thankfully, he had good friends.
Together, they would fight to live happily ever after.
"I don’t think anyone should have to fight for fair wages.
@tvo
does a terrifically important job for our community. I hope you get a fair deal."
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do
We love YOU,
@sharonloisbram
!
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
The weather's a little messy, but so is TVO's management! If they aren't in charge, who is? We just want the provincial government to give us a fair deal on wages or binding arbitration.
#OntarioMade
#OnPoli
Clear eyes, full hearts, full stomachs, can't lose! Thank you, La Salumeria, for your sandwich solidarity.
Anyone looking for delicious sandwiches that are pretty much as tall as they are wide should pop by 2021 Yonge Street, which is very close to our picket line at 2180.
Workers with
@TVO_CMG
:
-produce and host
@theagenda
-produce and host podcasts
-write and report
-create educational resources
-support and spot great docs and shows
And we love what we do,
@jferri
. But what's love without fair wages and job security?
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
We still don't fully get why
@tvo
locked $17 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 into investments just before it started negotiating with us. It's too bad VP of finance Jeff Hogan chose to leave TVO a day after we publicly revealed this. It would be good to have an experienced VP on hand to explain.
TVO tucked this $17,000,000 into an investment account. What’s it waiting to spend this money on? TVO should be using its funding on educational material.
Run TVO like it matters.
#onpoli
#SummerOfStrikes
#FallOfFairDeals
As a
@TVO_CMG
colleague on the education side said today: "We strive to represent all learners in the work we do ... We strive to educate with pride, not prejudice."
All Ontario kids deserve to feel safe, supported, encouraged, and celebrated.
#NoSpaceForHate
Solidarity isn't just a word. It's a state of mind, a set of actions, that builds community and helps strengthen and protect individuals.
We may be on the picket line, but we stand with those who are fighting for LGBTQ2S+ rights today — and every day.
You can't eat nostalgia & my landlord keeps asking for money instead of fond memories. TVO is a great public service and its workers need to be able to afford housing in the region. Stable jobs and decent pay should be standard for every worker in Ontario!
#FundTVOLikeitMatters
"I’m just one of many passionate and educated and invested people who work at TVO. We just want to get back to work — get back to our jobs, get back to supporting Ontarians."
— Sameen, curriculum specialist
@Sflecce
, let's get Sameen back to her dream job — with a fair deal!
Solidarity isn't just a word. It's a state of mind, a set of actions, that builds community and helps strengthen and protect individuals.
We may be on the picket line, but we stand with those who are fighting for LGBTQ2S+ rights today — and every day.
We keep our spirits high on the picket line.
But
@TVO_CMG
workers should be be making shows, reporting, creating educational resources for kids and families.
@Sflecce
and
@fordnation
: We just want a fair deal so we can get back to work for Ontarians!
Striking workers with
@TVO_CMG
stand in solidarity with
#MartinShort
.
Just as we stood with him, literally, in 1975 when he made a cameo as Smokey the Hare in an episode of the TVO Kids show Cucumber.
We want to give
@UniforTheUnion
a heartfelt thanks for their very generous donation of $5000 to our strike fund.
Our Unifor colleagues at
@tvo
are an essential part of the organization.
If you would like to donate too, please go to
Thanks to the CBC Branch of
@CMGLaGuilde
for the delicious Tibetan momos from Loga’s Corner. Branch president Naomi Robinson delivered the meal herself!
We'd have been happy to sign a fair deal with TVO execs, but they've been clear they won't offer one.
Today is day 45 of our strike, and we need a resolution that includes fair wages. If arbitration is the only way, the government needs to direct TVO to do it.
#onpoli
@Sflecce
“It is absolutely the best-case scenario in my opinion for the government to step in at this time and give us binding arbitration — because, clearly, we’re not dealing with reasonable people.”
—
@meredithmartin
at Queen's Park this morning.
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
If you love Tripping, Political Blind Date, or Borgen, you know the folks in docs and acquisitions at TVO have darn good taste.
So when
@tv_clee
mentions "things lined up which are absolutely brilliant," 👀 you'd better believe it.
@Sflecce
, let's get
@TVO_CMG
a fair deal!
The cost of living is rising.
So is executive pay
@tvo
.
Here are the raises
@TVO_CMG
workers have gotten:
-2012: 0%
-2013: 0%
-2014: 0%
-2015: 1.5%
-2016: 1.5%
-2017: 1%
-2018: 1%
-2019: 1%
-2020: 1%
-2021: 1%
The numbers tell the story.
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
Hey
@tvo
why are you lying to your audiences by saying you've got new episodes of
@TheAgenda
this week?
These are reruns. If you want
@spaikin
back on the air with current insights, treat your workers fairly and come to the table with a real offer.
#onpoli
#SupportTVOWorkers
“We need good journalism and we need the people who produce that journalism to be compensated fairly for it.” — Colin (
@ColinEllis81
), a producer on
@TheAgenda
CMG members need binding arbitration so we can get back to producing content that is
#ontariomade
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
Steve Paikin (
@spaikin
) was interviewed by
@OttawaMorning
about why he’s concerned Ontario’s public broadcaster TVO could disappear if it faces more cuts and why its journalists are striking for the first time in 53 yrs
#onpoli
#fundtvolikeitmatters
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has shown up this week to support
@TVO_CMG
workers across Ontario as we fight to
#FundTVOLikeitMatters
.
On Monday,
@LetsGoToTheEX
for the Labour Day parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of University Ave. and Queen St. W.
#ONLab
“We’ve always punched way above our weight. We’re such a small organization, and we deliver so much for so little that it's crazy to think we’re on a picket line right now,”
@TVO_CMG
president
@meredithmartin
tells
#TorontoTomorrow
.
ICYMI - On
#TorontoTomorrow
,
@TVO_CMG
's
@meredithmartin
speaks about the first strike in TVO's 53 year history - and why it matters. One of the most honest guests I've ever interviewed, so if you care about TVO - take a listen.
(Begins at 11:25 mark)
TVO won’t agree to arbitration as they say it's “best to resolve issues at the bargaining table,” and they remain “committed to continuing discussions with” us.
Yet, they left the bargaining table last week after presenting us with a “final offer” they’re forcing us to vote on.
As we head into the weekend,
@TVO_CMG
would like to express our gratitude for everyone who has:
💖 donated to our strike fund
💖 stopped by the picket line
💖 helped spread our message online or IRL
It's made this challenging time that much easier. Thank you!
We're looking forward to getting back to the table this morning. Hoping TVO Execs caught the minister saying this last week and keep it in mind. We're trying to be reasonable - a standard cost of living increase, and a continuation of our previous agreement on gig work.
TVO is sitting on millions of dollars while claiming it's got nothing to share with employees. Why does TVO have your tax dollars locked away, doing nothing?
Read the full release!
#onpoli
#SupportTVOWorkers
So disappointing that TVO executives refuse to reallocate the budget from their own salaries to the workers'. It would cost $250k to get us all back to work. This is the type of story where
@TheAgenda
shines. I'm disappointed we won't be on the air to analyze this development.
As someone who has given my life to serving the people through our democratic institutions, it is my responsibility to adhere to the principles of Ministerial accountability. I will continue to serve my constituents as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
A little rain can't dampen our spirits on the picket line — but a scrumptious lunch sure helps. Thank you,
@newsguild
, for keeping us strong and well-fed!
Minister
@Sflecce
. Thanks for featuring us so prominently on your website’s media page!
We’d love to have you back on
@TheAgenda
soon. Sadly it’s Closed for Business for the first time in its 18 year existence.
Help end our strike through binding arbitration
#supporttvoworkers
I spy with my little eye something that is ... GARY.
Pop down or up or across to 2180 Yonge Street right now, and meet the regular green guy who just wants a fair deal.
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
#MeetGary
Happy Monday! We'd love to be heading back to work creating great content for Ontario, but we'll be on the picket line outside instead.
We're still waiting for a reasonable offer that
1) Doesn't make job security worse, and
2) Comes close to inflation.
#SupportTVOWOrkers
“We believe in why we are out here, and we are not going to back down.”
Learn more about Ruth—and why CMG workers getting back to work (with a fair deal) matters to Ontarians.
“I feel like they're trying to get us to wither on the vine, so that eventually people will be like, 'Oh, they don't do anything anymore.' So if the province can shut TVO, people won't notice or care.”
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
#union
#summerofstrikes
"I’m not getting what I love to do, which is fun, engaging educational content for kids."
@Sflecce
, let's get a fair deal for
@lisamarinelli
and all the other
@TVO_CMG
workers who love what they do and want to keep doing it!
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
Thank you,
@Peter_Tabuns
. for dropping by 2180 Yonge today!
We’re happy to welcome politicians of all stripes at our picket line. So
@Sflecce
, if you’re ever in the neighbourhood, come by! We’re a genuinely friendly bunch and would love to talk.
TVO's
@spaikin
(in the blue sweater) chats with a fan who stopped by the
@TVO_CMG
picket line today.
Strikers will be in front of
@tvo
near Yonge and Eglinton until 2 p.m. Feel free to say hi if you're around.
#FundTVOLikeitMatters
Attention: Henry the Pupper is checking in. Henry is here. Henry is at 2180 Yonge for his picket-line paw patrol. Thank you for your support, Henry!
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
We’re here in beautiful London, on site, outside the
@amopolicy
conference, our partners.
If we weren’t on strike, we’d be inside hosting panels about
#Ontario
’s future. Where are our managers you might ask? ….At the cottage.
#summerofstrikes
#fundtvolikeitmatters
Meet
@ebombicino
, a producer on
@TheAgenda
. Learn why Eric believes in this strike—and why CMG workers getting back to work (with a fair deal) matters to Ontarians.
The gang's all here at 2180 Yonge — and
@spaikin
is, of course, busy having informed conversations.
@Sflecce
, let's get
@TVO_CMG
a fair deal so that we can all get back to work providing the informed coverage and educational resources Ontarians count on!
#FundTVOLikeItMatters
As week 3 of
@TVO_CMG
's strike comes to a close, we'd like to thank our supporters:
- everyone who's liked, followed + shared our content
- the wonderful people who've stopped by the picket line
- the unions who've bought us lunch + stood with us in solidarity ✊
THANK YOU!