The Canadian Media Guild and CBC have agreed to an across-the-board wage increase of 1.5% for 2016-17. This increase is also applicable to all the minimum rates applicable to Freelance Contributors. The increase is effective April 1st and the new rates should be posted at cmg.ca and cmgfreelance.ca within the next couple of days.
The one exception is the rate for Text Contributions. The new minimum jumps to 55 cents a word from 50 cents a word based on a previous negotiation.
The increase comes as a result of the 2013 contract settlement which doesn’t expire until 2019, but the two sides agreed to a ‘wage re-opener’ for 2017.
“All freelancers should examine their newest contracts (April 1st or later) to make sure that the increase has been applied,” says Don Genova, CMG Freelance President. “Also, if you’re a regular contributor being paid over-scale, your base rate should go up 1.5% and your over-scale amount should remain the same, it shouldn’t be reduced as a result of the base improvement.”
If you have any questions about the increase and how it should be applied, contact Don at freelance@cmg.ca.
