CBC, union continue talking

OTTAWA— The two sides in the seven-week-old CBC lockout continued negotiations late into the evening last night as speculation mounted that a tentative agreement is near. A 48- hour media blackout on the talks was declared last Thursday, and was extended throughout the weekend as discussions between management and the Canadian Media Guild — which represents 5,500 locked- out employees — ground on. The two sides met through the night Saturday, exhausted negotiators took a break to rest and regroup, and were back at the bargaining table in Ottawa yesterday afternoon.

“ There’s obviously still something to talk about, and if there was no progress I don’t think there would be any point staying at the table,” said a source close to the negotiations.

It had been expected the blackout would be lifted yesterday morning. But then it emerged the parties would have something to say publicly by dinnertime, so with the parties still talking, federal officials said the media blackout would continue until midnight last night.

Sources on both sides of the negotiations said the parties were still trying to find a way through the impasse on contract employees and job security, although it is believed an agreement on subsidiary issues such as salaries and layoff guidelines is within reach. There is growing pressure from Parliament — and more specifically from within the Liberal party — for a settlement. There is also a growing belief in Ottawa’s political circles that if the parties can’t resolve their stalemate, the government will step in, possibly this week.

This past week, the political pressure on both sides intensified as federal Labour Minister Joe Fontana requested negotiations be moved to Ottawa. The main issue in the conflict is management’s insistence that it must rely on short- term contracts and casual employees if it hopes to carry out its mandate. The union, meanwhile, has insisted on reversing the practice and providing more permanent jobs for its members.

It has long been rumoured that the Oct. 5 start of the NHL regular season — and the attendant revenues from televising games on the CBC — would prompt a settlement to the acrimonious dispute.