The Canadian Media Guild began as the Canadian Wire Service Guild, founded in 1950 to represent employees at The Canadian Press.  Soon after, the CWSG went on to represent reporters and editors at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.  In 1976, employees at Reuters Canada joined the Guild.

In 1993, the CWSG won the right to represent everyone in program production at the CBC.  Because of the wide variety of jobs represented within the "new" union, the CSWG changed its name to the Canadian Media Guild.  A few years later, CBC administrative workers joined the Guild and, in 2003, CBC's technical and trades personnel became CMG members.  In 2002 aptn's Editorial staff in the News & Current Affairs department joined the Guild and another bargaining unit, representing technicians from the Operations department, became CMG members in 2004.  Most recently, employees at CW Television and at Radio CJRC (Gatineau) chose to join the Canadian Media Guild.

The Canadian Media Guild is a democratic trade union, duly recognized and certified under federal and provincial labour legislation.  We currently have nearly six thousand members, all of whom work in the Canadian media.  We have collective agreements with the following employers including several hundred members who work at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on a freelance basis:

Our mission is to advance the interests of our members through collective bargaining.  As a union, it is our goal to promote the best working environments possible in order for our members to have satisfying, rewarding and sustainable careers.  We believe strongly that Canadians will have access to higher-quality information and entertainment if the people creating it have stable and fair employment conditions.

	The first Guild bargaining unit at aptn was certified in 2002, consisting of 18 editorial staff in the News & Current Affairs department. Another bargaining unit, representing technicians from the Operations department, was certified in 2004. In 2011 we merged the Editorial and Operations Units into one.  Our members at aptn are the first employees of a National Aboriginal Organization to unionize in Canada.
The Canadian Media Guild represents approximately 84 employees at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Our members at aptn include producers, studio crew, reporters, master control operators, video journalists, researchers, shooter/editors, anchors and broadcast technicians. Guild members at aptn are primarily responsible for network operations, and producing aptn National News and Current Affairs show.
Currently our branch executive consists of a President, and two Vice-Presidents.
	Vincent Proteau - vproteau@gmail.com 204-947-9331 x256
	Derek Christianson - dchristianson@aptn.ca 204-947-9331 x316
	Bruce Spence - ndncarman@hotmail.com 204-947-9331 x310
	Cheryl McKenzie - oshki_kikotowin@hotmail.com 204-947-9331 x304

The aptn Branch's has a Canadian Media Guild representative that assists us when dealing management and communicating with the Guild.  Sometimes Guild members have issues that cannot be solved or questions that cannot be answered by location executives, and that is why the CMG has Staff Representatives available to assist its members.
	Terri Monture - terri@cmg.ca 416-591-5333
	Rick Warren - rick@cmg.ca 778-772-3363

The aptn Branch Joint Committee is a team of aptn | CMG volunteers that meet regularly with aptn managers to work out issues.  When there are questions or concerns that you would like to be resolved, the joint committee is here to help.  If you have a question or concern you would like addressed, simply contact one or all of the executive members and they will respond accordingly. You can email the aptn Branch directly at cmgaptn@gmail.com   aptn Branch President Vincent Proteau 204-947-9331 x256 - vproteau@gmail.com   aptn Branch Vice-President Derek Christianson 204-947-9331 x316 - dchristianson@aptn.ca   aptn Branch Vice President Bruce Spence 204-947-9331 x310 - ndncarman@hotmail.com aptn Branch Secretary / Treasurer Cheryl McKenzie 204-947-9331 x304 - oshki_kikotowin@hotmail.com

There are dozens of ways you can participate in your union. Some things don't involve a lot of time, but are very important to creating a real presence for the Guild where you work.  This includes learning about your collective agreement and making sure it's being respected in your work area, informing others, and greeting new employees and making sure they know they belong to a union. Your union always needs volunteers to join workplace committees, including grievance, bargaining, benefits and health and safety committees, as well as union committees, including local and national executives, human rights and advocacy events. For more information on how to get involved, send aptn Branch an email at cmgaptn@gmail.com or contact the CMG National Offfice.