Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 05/99) - CBC production workers in the NWT faced a monumental decision this week -- to stay on the job or vote to strike and join their technical co-workers on the picket line.

The NWT contingent represents some 39 workers in Yellowknife, 12 in Iqaluit and several in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Cambridge Bay. They joined the 3,300 production workers nationwide for the strike vote Wednesday and Thursday.

With negotiations over money and job security having broken down, the feeling Wednesday by union members was that the vote was a done deal.

Bruce May represents the Canadian Media Guild -- the production workers' union -- for the CBC in Toronto and said inquiry calls from members indicate they're ready to strike.

"They're asking more practical questions about a strike rather than expressing doubts about what they're doing," he said Monday, "My experience is that when people are asking these questions it means they've made up their minds."

In Yellowknife, Guild members threw a lunchtime barbecue Tuesday for their 15 striking colleagues.

"It is an attempt to show people out there that we support them and that we are willing to stand together as a union and let our fellow union know we're behind them," said Guild local president Paul Andrew.

Andrew said preparations for a Guild strike have already begun, including setting up committees for co-ordination, communication and even entertainment to boost strikers' morale.

Andrew said prior to Wednesday's vote, the only question was how strong the strike mandate would be.

"I'm hoping to get a strong strike vote," he said, "and the irony is that a strong vote might actually prevent a strike."

Speaking from Toronto on Wednesday, Guild national president Lise Lereau explained that a strike vote of at least 66 per cent might compel management to return to the bargaining table.

"No union in its right mind wants to go on strike," she said, "but we do all these horrible things and hope for a fruitful round of bargaining and a positive result."

Lereau said an unofficial vote result would be announced late today and the official results Monday. She said she couldn't see how the CBC could carry on broadcasting if the production workers walk out. She said this weekend's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast has already been cancelled and that hosts Ron MacLean and Don Cherry are both Guild members.

In Yellowknife, CBC regional director Marie Wilson said earlier in the week that she has kept in touch with the striking workers on the picket line.

"I'm out there every day," she said, "I'm not in a position to show support for them as strikers, but I do get out there and talk to them and see how they're doing."