Lacroix: “Failure is not an option” in next round of CBC/CMG talks

Hubert Lacroix spoke yesterday at the Canadian Media Guild’s biannual convention. It marked the first time that a CBC/Radio-Canada President and CEO spoke at a CMG convention.

Lacroix said poor communication between the senior executives and guild representatives underscored an urgent need to rebuild a proper relationship. Lacroix’s said his mission since he joined the CBC 18 months ago has been to build a greater level of respect and transparency at every level of the organization.

Lacroix called for a “paradigm shift” (yes, he actually said “paradigm shift”) in thinking to incorporate more pride and positivity. He added that he knew the job was hard because the same executives are in the same place as they were during the 2005 lockout. He also highlighted that each member of his senior management team had been fully briefed on the importance of the CBC/CMG relationship, and “failure is not an option” to them.

Lacroix also spoke of the changing media environment, particularly of the BBC’s move to up their budget for their web services from $200 million to $800 million US annually. He used this as a pointed example; “[Mark Thompson, director-general of the BBC] is going to take almost one-half our total annual budget for CBC/Radio-Canada and invest it in Web services and Web-related initiatives,” Lacroix told delegates, pointing to the challenge of working in an industry that is constantly requiring us to rethink our existing strategies. “How can we keep being relevant in this environment if we can’t talk? If our own labour and management team can’t change this, no one can.”

Lacroix has also started up a key initiative, “Challenge Us!”, which brings together 65 CBC employees from all levels and all areas of the country, in order to examine the employee/employer relationship and change it to a healthy and productive one. He recognized the inputs from key members of the Canadian Media Guild, and finished by once again reiterating that failure was not an option, and that the relationship must improve from both sides.


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  Executives, Human Resources, Labour/CBC Unions

6 Responses to “Lacroix: “Failure is not an option” in next round of CBC/CMG talks”

    LeonT says:

    I think M. Lacroix’s leadership is beginning to take shape. His enthusiasm for breaking down old barriers between workers and management should not be ignored or dismissed. I’m hopeful for a new deal between the CMG and the CBC will reflect his optimism and progressive outlook on manager-worker relations. It’s time to move into the 21st Century as co-operatively as possible.
    MBG says:

    So… when can we expect another strike to cripple the CBC yet again? It’s become a Canadian tradition, like Canada Day and Celine Dion.
    Mike from NS says:

    I’ve read before that the Canadian Civil Service is very highly unionized and that the CBC is even more so. The CBC union(s) are only slightly less militant than the posties. The heavy unionist environment can be seen in CBC’s product. Of course, most CBCers would think that this is a good thing.
    Dwight Williams says:

    Settling for starvation wages is never a good thing, unionized or not.

    Neither are lockouts, I’d say.
    Mike in NS says:

    I agree with Dwight - starvation wages are bad. Can a CBC employee please let us know what their wages/salaries are so that we can understand wether they’re starvation level or not? Is Dwight a CBC employee? If so, Dwight, how close to starvation are you?

    Thanks.
    Dwight Williams says:

    In the order that they were asked: No, and I’m surviving well enough for now. I’m just a fan on the sidelines right now with an oversized virtual mouth and a vocabulary to match.