Talks resumed between TVO and the Canadian Media Guild on Tuesday as 74 producers and content creators remain on strike.
The employees — who work on current affairs show The Agenda and other programming, as well as create online educational content — walked off the job Aug. 21 and continue to picket outside TVO headquarters.
The Agenda host Steve Paikin, who is a member of the union, joined them Tuesday.
In a release, the union said the face-to-face talks were the first in almost two weeks.
Contract work and wages are the main sticking points. TVO wants to eliminate an existing agreement that converts contract positions into permanent ones after two years, or the position is eliminated — but the union says precarious work is unacceptable and that the issue is a deal-breaker.
TVO has offered pay increases of 2.75 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 1.75 per cent over three years, with a possible fourth year bump of 1.75, which the union has said doesn’t address current cost-of-living concerns on top of below-inflation wage increases, or wage freezes, over the past decade.
Mitch Patten, TVO’s vice-president of corporate and community affairs, said progress is being made, and that having “lengthy discussions … are a positive sign, even though we still have issues to resolve.”
He has previously said the broadcaster would like “flexibility” on extending contract positions.
This is the first strike in TVO’s 53-year history.
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