Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 10/99) - The polls are closed, the results are out and negotiating teams from English-language CBC management and its production unit are back at the bargaining table.

More than 3,000 CBC production workers voted nationwide last Wednesday and Thursday -- including approximately 50 members across the NWT -- whether to give their union, the Canadian Media Guild, a mandate to proceed with legal action, including a strike, "in order to achieve a fair contract."

The official voting results released Monday showed an 85.5 per cent vote for the strike mandate, with an 81 per cent voter turnout.

Speaking from Toronto, bargaining committee member Arnold Amber said the Guild would not release voting results by region, but that the strong return reflects members support across the country.

"This vote shows the underlying level of unhappiness with the CBC's attitudes toward its employees," said Guild national president Lise Lereau in a statement.

Guild members had said prior to the vote that a strong mandate might actually allow them to avoid a strike by forcing management to negotiate. Amber said Monday that he had just returned from a bargaining session.

"The vote is making the talks easier," he said. "Now management can't say they don't know if our members support our position."

Amber said if bargaining fails, the union may strike or face a lockout by March 16 or 17. CBC technical workers are already on the picket line.

CBC North regional director Marie Wilson referred all questions to the Toronto head office on Monday, saying she couldn't comment on the reconvened negotiations. Toronto management representative Ruth-Ellen Soles called the strong vote "unexpected," but said management is hopeful an agreement can be reached. She said CBC technical workers also sat down to talks Monday, through a federal mediator.

"Talks have begun quickly, and we're hopeful an agreement can be reached before a strike takes place," she said.

Manning the polling station in the basement of the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Wednesday, local Guild president Paul Andrew reported a 97 per cent turnout. He said Yellowknife voters mainly performed their "democratic duty" without comment, but that the general feeling was that a mandate would be passed.

"The whole unit is trying to get prepared for a strike or a lockout," he said, "Mortgages have to be paid and bills have to be paid at the end of the day, so I'm sure some people might be looking for part-time jobs in addition to doing some strike activity."