Global Montreal staff reject Corus’s final offer, citing pay, benefits, pension issues
Global Montreal employees have overwhelmingly rejected a final offer from their employer Corus Entertainment to renew their collective agreement, over concerns around their pay, benefits and pension plan.
According to a release from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, nearly 90 per cent of members from Local 4502 participated in the electronic vote, with 91 per cent of them voting to reject the offer.
Anne Leclair, president of Local 4502, said the union plans to file a request for conciliation with the federal ministry of employment and social development in the coming days.
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In its offer, Corus offered a four-year wage increase that would begin with a lump-sum payment in the first year, followed by a 1.5 per cent increase for each of the following three years. The CUPE asserted the increases would have been “funded largely by the employees themselves, agreeing to reductions in the pay structure” and were possibly below the inflation threshold.
“The employees of Global Montreal are united in their determination, as demonstrated by the result of the vote,” said Leclair . “Their union negotiating committee has a solid mandate to protect their purchasing power after years of sacrifice.”
The union didn’t provide details of Corus’ proposed changes to the benefits and pension plans and declined an interview request from Benefits Canada. Corus didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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