[caption id="attachment_12098" align="alignright" width="566"] Your 2016 CMG Freelance delegates. Left to right: Elle Andra-Warner, JP Davidson, Rachel Sanders, Paolo Pietropaolo, Don Genova (CMG freelance branch president) and George Butters. Photo by Andrew Meade.[/caption]

Last weekend media workers from across Canada came together in Toronto to discuss working conditions and the future of our industry.

The biennial Canadian Media Guild convention took place on June 4th and 5th at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale. And freelancers, as always, were part of the event.

CMG Freelance branch president Don Genova and a group of freelance delegates (pictured above) met to discuss plans for the freelance branch of the union and to join in on the convention's plenary sessions.

One highlight of the convention included news that, after three years of steady job losses at our employers, things seemed to have levelled off. Loss of dues income to the union's budget was drastic for the past few years, but members are hopeful that the worst is over.

The vote by employees at VICE to join the CMG was another major topic of conversation. Genova says the news, which broke late last week, represents good news for the future of the union.

"It gives us hope with organizing other digital broadcasters ," he said. "There's a younger demographic of media workers that's not afraid of unions but realizes the benefits that come from membership."

CMG members also said goodbye to CMG Vice-President Lise Lareau and CBC Branch President Marc-Philippe Laurin, both longtime union activists. Both have announced that they won't seek elected office when their terms run out at the end of this year.

"Lise Lareau in particular has long championed the concept of the independent membership at the freelance branch and the importance of keeping the issues of precarious workers in mind while we bargain with our employers and stand up for their rights in the media landscape at large," said Genova.

And CMG Freelance delegates were happy to hear that funding from our parent union, the Communication Workers of America, has been renewed.

This means we'll be able to keep building our freelance branch over the coming year. We plan to continue providing support and advocacy for our members in areas such as contracts, rates, and professional development. 

For information about the cost and benefits of membership in CMG Freelance, check out this information page.