CBC and Canadian Media Guild bargainers have clinched a quick deal on a new five-year contract.

The tentative agreement to 2014, which follows seven weeks of negotiation and will come into effect on Jan. 1, was inked on Saturday and awaits ratification by the union’s membership.

The new agreement calls for a 1.5% wage increase in each year, with a wage re-opener at the start of the third year.

The CMG, which represents around 5,500 CBC producers, directors, technicians, on-air talent and other behind-the-scenes staff, has recommended that its rank and file ratify the new deal during an upcoming vote.

Swift agreement on a new contract between the CBC and the CMG contrasts with 2005 when both sides took 16 months to settle on a new deal, and only after thorny negotiations over the growing use of contract workers at the public broadcaster and a bitter management lockout.

Recent contract talks between CBC managers and CMG bargainers included negotiations over outsourcing and access by unionized employees to available work, but in a decidedly more constructive framework, according to sources close to the negotiations.

Key issues negotiated over the last seven weeks included employee workload, job security, pay, and training and career development.

The new deal also includes improvements in maternity/paternity benefits, temporary upgrades, bereavement leave and benefits for laid-off employees.

The current collective agreement was set to expire in March 2009.