Montreal: Some 1,300 television and radio technicians and trade workers with Syndicat des Technicians et Artisans du Reseau Francais de Radio-Canada (starf) in Quebec and New Brunswick went out on an unlimited general strike Thursday evening, Dec. 30, disrupting Radio-Canada’s 10 p.m. flagship newscast Le Telejournal.

The action has obliged src management to cancel both its Montreal ce soir and Le Telejournal national newscasts, both of which have been replaced by shortened news bulletins produced by Reseau de l’Information.

The situation heated up on Jan. 4 when large numbers of union members began picketing outside the Maison Radio-Canada complex in Montreal, effectively blocking off all entrances. Non-striking staff, including reporters and management, were obliged to line up with security personnel who accompanied them into the building.

src management spokesman Marc Sevigny calls the strike action ‘incomprehensible and unjustified,’ and warns the union’s ‘hardening position and intimidation could entail heavy consequences.’

Just before the walkout, src reported contract talks had been making ‘slow but sure’ progress.

Citing fatigue, and the many outstanding negotiation issues – primarily local contracting-out issues and salary clauses – Sevigny says management had proposed the two sides take a break until Jan. 1, an offer refused outright by the union.

starf says it has the support of other unions at the network including those representing in-house directors, independent video technicians, communication and office workers.

Management personnel is filling in for the striking workers, although as many as 200 temporary employees on the tv side have been told to stay home because of the strike.