After nearly a month on the picket line, the seven striking employees of MBS Radio have been back on the air for the past few days. The striking members of the Canadian Media Guild are broadcasting from a web-based station called Radio Free Saint John, playing music as well as using the internet airwaves to get their message out. Yesterday they discussed the issues with special guest Martin O’Hanlon, director of CWA/SCA, the parent union of the CMG.
The seven employees went on strike on June 25th after trying for almost a year to negotiate a contract with MBS management. A number of local businesses have suspended their advertising from the affected stations — Big John, K-100 and CFBC — in support of the striking workers.
You can follow the news about the MBS strike on the Fair Deal For MBS Employees Facebook page or the new Radio Free Saint John Facebook page. If you’d like to offer your support, you can send a message to MBS Radio owner Robert Pace here.
UPDATE: Story Board was contacted by Paul Jensen, the VP of the union of seven striking MBS employees. He reported that Radio Free Saint John has been a morale lifter for everyone involved.
“Radio has always been our passion and getting back behind the mic has buoyed everyone’s spirits, even if we’re broadcasting to a small audience,” said Jensen. “The community support has been quite favorable, and the phones are already ringing for requests. Our station is a unique combination of the 3 MBS formats of Rock, CHR and Oldies/Hits. It’s like old time radio.”