EDMONTON – According to the Telecommunication Workers Union (TWU) and the B.C. and Alberta Federations of Labour, four Calgary radio stations refuse to run radio spots in support of locked-out Telus workers. The radio campaign calls on customers to disconnect from Telus.
The 30-second radio spots, which start today, will run four-to-five times daily in Edmonton, Fort McMurray and throughout B.C. It’s considered a “heavy rotation,” notes Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) President Gil McGowan, of the three week campaign, with a substantial budget of over $250,000 ($120,000 going for Alberta placement).
The four radio stations allegedly refusing to air the spots include CHFM (Lite 96, Rogers Media), CKIS (Jack FM, Rogers) CHQR (News Talk 770, Corus Radio), and CKRY (Country 105, Corus). The sole station in Calgary that was said to have agreed to run the spots is CJAY (Standard Radio’s rock station)
McGowan says the stations have not yet given a reason as to why they have allegedly decided not to play the spots. But he suggests a “large advertising budget by Telus might have something to do with it.”
None of the radio stations noted could yet be reached for comment.
Will the ads work? Will customers come back?
The ads, which begin as an on the spot report, “Live on the line,” call upon the public to “Give Telus a wake up call” by canceling telephone calling features (such as call waiting, call display, etc…). The four ads include four Telus employees and one customer giving their takes on the lock out. Complaints include dismay over customer service, job cuts and perceived misspending of Telus profits.
One ad claims the TWU represents the employees that made Telus one of the “most profitable telecoms in North America”. Then it continues, “How does Telus repay us?
Vice-president, Corporate Services for Telus, Drew McArthur, calls the strategy of a call to drop services “mystifying”. “It defies logic, it undermines the company and the revenue that supports their jobs,” he continues. “We want to grow the business to secure more jobs.”
TWU President Bell says these are “drastic measures for drastic times”. Bell suggests that it’s a pressure tactic to influence the company and that when the workers are able to get back to work, people “will switch” back, perhaps with some kind of campaign to help.
Through word of mouth, their web site and regular media releases, TWU have already been asking people, particularly union members, to cancel one or more special calling feature. Their website even provides a “lockout update newsletter” with a step-by-step guide of how to “help save jobs and ensure good services from Telus by canceling “one or more of the special calling features,” or making changes to a monthly cell phone plan.
Bell believes that the pressure has been felt, giving thanks to sales from competitors like Shaw and the recent launch delay of Telus’ television services as indications of the strategy working. He suggests people are switching away from Telus. And “we plan to intensify our efforts” to call for action, “if we do not come to an agreement within the next month”.
No date has been set to get for future negotiations. Bell notes, however, that “whatever we decide out of that (round of meetings), we will bring to a vote.”
McArthur says “Telus employees are already voting with their feet,” claiming around half of Alberta employees cross the picket lines, while B.C. employees have been asked to stay home over safety concerns. He insists their most recent proposal is a good deal for TWU members. “It would make them the best paid telecommunications workers” in Canada.
One thing all sides don’t dispute, MP3 players (reportedly iPods) are being given out to returning employees. Of course, one side says it’s for returning employees to wear “while they cross the picket line” to avoid hearing the “rhetoric”. While the other side suggests the MP3 players are a ploy that just comes along with all the free food and other perks given to those that cross the line.
Both sides appear to be dancing to their own tunes.
Tara Blasco Raj is www.cartt.ca’s western editor.
