UNION CALLS ON ADVERTISERS TO STOP ADS
By Adnews Staff
The striking union at BCTV is trying to get advertisers to stop advertising their wares on the station until an eight-day-old labor dispute is resolved. The union, C.E.P. 814-M, made the move because BCTV wouldn't sit down at the table to negotiate, union negotiator Clem Chapple told Adnews last week. The TV station has decided to return to the bargaining table, so the union softened its approach to advertisers. Chapple said he did not known if any advertisers had suspended their ads. The union went on strike last week because it hasn't had a contract for two years and wants an average wage increase in a five year contract. In addition, it is the first contract for the newsroom, which joined the union last year. There are also language issues dealing with such things as job security. BCTV says it is offering an average pay increase of 16% over two years to the newly unionized employees in the newsroom. The union represents 125 of BCTV's 222 employees including news reporters, camera operators, technicians, producers and sports reporters.