TORONTO – Despite ramping up its Wireless Home Internet service, Bell Canada is laying off technicians in favour of outsourcing much of the project to non-union contractors, according to its main union, Unifor.
Launching first in Ontario and Quebec, Bell's Wireless Home Internet project is a large-scale investment connecting rural Canadians with high-speed Internet using its wireless network.
The union said in a press release Bell Canada issued layoff notices to 76 technicians across Ontario and Quebec on Thursday, “continuing its long history of job erosion." Unifor added it is currently preparing to launch a campaign that will be focused in part on opposing the contracting out of the Wireless to the Home project, to ensure the long-term viability of good jobs in the telecommunications sector.
"Canada's telecommunications sector should support good jobs, where you don't have to worry if your job will be outsourced or eliminated even in times when the company is thriving," said Unifor’s Quebec director Renaud Gagné, in a statement. "All Canadians should have access to high-quality and affordable internet services, but there is no reason why Unifor members can't lead the way in getting Canadians connected."
Bell has yet to respond to Cartt.ca’s request for a comment on Unifor's allegations.
Unifor is Canada's largest private sector union, representing 315,000 workers in many sectors of the economy.
