By Jesse Russell

The labor dispute between the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and its workers has officially ended with 88.4 percent of voting members in favor of ratifying a new deal with management. A lockout began on August 15 when the CBC shut out talent and production staff after 15 months of unsuccessful bargaining. The major sticking point was contracting out work - a major issue that was settled when management agreed to cap the amount of contracted work at 9.5 percent of the fulltime staff. Wages will also increase by 12.6 percent between now and 2009.