|
Reprinted
by permission
August
7, 2003 - Scene Magazine - News Buzz
Barry Wells
Musicians
battle Rogers TV
A LABOUR
DISPUTE is heating up between the London Musicians'
Association (LMA), Local 279 of the American Federation
of Musicians of United States and Canada and Rogers Television.
LMA President
Paul Sharpe says "the LMA is in the process of
filing a formal complaint with the federal government pursuant
to The Status of the Artist Act against Rogers Television
for failing to negotiate in good faith" to secure a "basic
scale agreement" to cover "live or in-studio services
to Rogers." Mr. Sharpe says that "we presented a
five-page [proposal] document to representatives of Rogers
TV on April 30, 2003" and that since that time repeated
attempts to contact London station manager Scott Jackson
have fallen on deaf ears.
Mr. Sharpe
says that "in July, Mr. Jackson finally informed LMA
representatives that 'Rogers has no further interest in negotiating
a scale agreement.' But Rogers has a legal obligation to bargain
in good faith," says Mr. Sharpe. "Ironically, London,
Ontario is the birthplace of Canadian cable."
"While
the details of negotiations may be complex," says Sharpe,
"the issue is simple. Professional musicians that we
represent need to get paid when they appear on Rogers TV."
Rogers station manager Scott Jackson was unavailable for comment.
Readers
are invited to visit the LMA's Web site on the labour dispute
by logging on to www.deartedrogers.com
©
Scene Magazine 2003 www.scenemagazine.com
Back
to Media
|
News