cbcviktim

We Are The Champions

2005-10-03T06:02:00.000-04:00

We’ve paid our dues -
Time after time -
We’ve done our sentences
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
We’ve made a few
We’ve had our share of sand kicked in our face -
But we’ve come through

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

We're still standing ... nyah nyah nyah

2005-10-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

I've been disgusted at many of the events of the past few days. Trying to get some time to sit down and type something after working at other odd jobs to pay the bills is hard to do.

The managers who partied at Jack Asstors are a real treat. They truly put the "ASS" in Jack ASStors. The gaul of celebrating 6 weeks of work and bonuses while fellow workers are locked out of their jobs and not getting paychecks is heartless.

What were they celebrating? The fact that they are getting commercials on air for only ONE network feed? Are they happy that all the advertising clients are rightfully PISSED OFF that they aren't getting value for their dollar? Would you be pleased if you had paid big bucks to advertise on The National, only to see your product being shown during BBC news? Think of the exposure that advertisers missed out on since CBC didn't cover TWO HURRICANES, THE GAZA PULLOUT, THE WHITE HOUSE FAILING, ETC ETC ETC. You are going to be dishing out freebie spots for months after this disastrous decision to lock us out. Can't wait to see the pie charts and graphs to prove how successful you were over this period!

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure that things have been really tough in there with all the long hours, extra pay, bonuses, free catered food.

What are they teaching managers like Doug Brooks at the Niagara Institute? How to send out an email invitation during a lockout to celebrate mismanagement and failure? How to responsibly spend taxpayers dollars on booze and food while workers are locked out and the CBC isn't meeting it's mandate to the Canadian people?

Maybe Doug Brooks should look at ALL the lyrics of Elton John (and Bernie Taupin's) "I'm Still Standing." They don't quite reflect what I think he was trying to boast about:

You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use

And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away

Wow! That sure sounds more like the sentiment of those out on the line tossing a bitch-slap at Senior Management to me. I'm sure if we got them to play this at a pep rally outside you'd get the loudest day of picketers yet. Maybe that suggestion should be made. Maybe we'll just do it anyway. The song goes on:

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now

And again ... this is OUR rally cry ... not yours Doug Brooks. These words will hold true when everyone returns to work and will be remembered. Your threats DON'T cut us down, and you truly are the clown.

Now, for a nice foot massage, rum and coke, and a good sleep ... then back to the line to sing a new song.

The REIGN is coming down

2005-09-25T11:40:00.000-04:00

It's a dreary, wet day today. However, there have been very promising developments in the lockout over the past few days.

The gov't is finally reacting to our pleas for intervention. Stop this silly dance marathon and get on with resolving the issues at hand. Finally, some MPs are stepping forward and telling CBC management to stop this bullshit and get our public broadcast network back up and running to the standards that it is supposed to be meeting. No more pathetic CFL games with no commentary. No more Antiques Roadshow marathons. No more BBC cricket scores. No more rinky-dink CBC Kids hosting (check out the piss-poor lighiting!). No more International News stories being missed. ETC. ETC. ETC.

I love following the good-blogger DRONE. He speaks with great insight and raises a lot of issues that seem to be more important to expedite the resolution of this lock-out. Comments readers make on Drone's blog are very insightful as well. It is so true that the Sr. Mgrs. will use the lower-level managers as their shields. They will try to protect themselves and sacrafice their own, as they have sacraficed us. They've got a rude awakening coming if they haven't already started to smell the coffee by now.

I like the term that one of comments here used to describe Sr. Mgmnt. as "PowerPointPeople". This is a great moniker as they love their PPT shows. What is truly ironic is that most of them have no idea on how to put a PPT show together, make it a useful tool, and how to connect their laptop (which they all own, along with cell phones, blackberries, etc. etc.) to a projector!! That shit is all taken care of by drones.

When this is over, they should all be forced to take a mandatory leave. Guarantee you, we'd be able to make the CBC fly high and strong without them there. This is what they fear the most. They KNOW that CBC will work WITHOUT them. They are the ones, at this point, that are truly vulnerable.

United we stand, divided THEY fall.

Pig Roast

2005-09-23T13:03:00.000-04:00

I just called my MP today. Her "person" had no idea on what her stance was on the CBC lockout. I am awaiting a response. They told me that they would call me back in the next couple of days. I encourage everyone to write/phone/email/smoke signal their MP and let them know that this is wrong.

The decision makers at CBC have chosen to lock out employees and in return provide Canadians with sub-par product. This is a gross misappropriation of tax dollars and all citizens should be in an uproar over this. It is simply another federally funded f@#k-up and should be exposed as such.

Where is all the money going (after the hotel, catering, air fares, taxis, overtime, bonuses, etc. are paid for)?
What is being done with all the money saved?
Why is the government still supporting the CBC and it's Board of MisDirectors?
Who will be held accountable?

It's interesting to see how Senior Management is able to solve problems. They just get rid of somebody and pin the blame on them. These patsies are notoriously SILENT upon their dismissals. Why? How? Everyone has their cost, therefore they surely are getting FANTASTIC monetary bonuses along with their packages, to keep silent. Why have we not heard from (former) Industrial Relations director and chief negotiator Michelle Sparling?

Michelle Sparling was 'released' by management after 15 months at the bargaining table. She was rude and dictatorial in the final satages. With quotes such as "This is very much the hill we will die on," and "We realize where this (our position) may lead us, and we're prepared to deal with the consequences."

Why did she get fired? For towing the George Smith party line? All of a sudden George realizes that the manner in which she was directed to deal with negotiations was not working, they quickly state that she was out of line and dismissed her. Well, where's the accountability of her superiors who coached her moves? Do they really think that we believe she was acting independently and not voicing the beiliefs and wishes of her superiors?

Why have we not heard a peep from Sparling's replacement Stephen Satchel? For somebody who's negotiating experience seems to consist only of his work with Sparling is he really the right person to be at the negotiating table with? Arnold Amber explained yesterday how Satchel's penchant for definitions of words like "consider" and "fair and reasonable" were a hindrancence in talks for almost a week!!! That's what CMG negotiators are up against? Sheesh. Industrial Relations and Human Resources are all under the watchful eye, guillotine, and under direct orders from George Smith. Hmmmm. Scared little piggies. Don't get lead to the abatoir squealing.

The rollercoaster ride that this lockout has been is growing tiresome. We have to stick together and ride it out to its finish though. We WILL prevail. As Amber said, we have WON. Management just hasn't come to that realization.

Since we are all hungry on the line, the upcoming PIG ROAST will be that much more satisfying. As for vegetarians on the line, well there are many managers inside that could be deemed "vegetables".

Piggies

2005-09-23T00:18:00.000-04:00

Well, I have finally come to generating my own Blog. I have seen many others doing this. I may not be adding anything new to the effort, but I feel like I just have to do something.

We are now in the 6th week of being locked-out of our workplace at the CBC. I've been on a rollercoaster ride of emotions over that time period. This week has turned into a much darker tone for me. I try to remain positive, but this game is starting to get very old, very fast.

I continue to bite my lip and convince myself that it will all work out in the end. I do hestitate when I think of what it will be like to return to our workplace when this is finally completed. Will it be a joyous occaision? Or, will it be one of continuing distrust and disgust?

I am thoroughly disgusted at what Senior Management is forcing upon all of us souls who got kicked-out of our workplace. I am also perturbed at the rest of management seemingly following along to the orders of the senior piggies.

The late, great George Harrison had some wonderful words regarding senior management:

Piggies

Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in.

Have you seen the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts to play around in.

In their styes with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking.

Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.