OTTAWA and TORONTO – Changes in Bell Canada’s field services group sparked a sharp rebuke from the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) who called Bell’s treatment of employees “callous”.
Bell confirmed to Cartt.ca that it is relocating some field services groups from two locations in Toronto to its main Creekbank campus in Mississauga, located west of the city. A spokesperson said in an email that the resulting increases in overall efficiency of the consolidation will result in the closure of its Ottawa-based assignment queue and “some reduction in positions”.
CEP issued a statement saying that it represents the 65 workers who will be laid off in Ottawa, as well as the 300 clerical employees and 23 technicians whose jobs will be moved to Mississauga.
"Our members in Ottawa, many with years of loyal service, feel like they're being dumped on a trash heap," said Barb Dolan, Ontario administrative VP of the union representing the affected employees, in the statement. "In Toronto, our members are on pins and needles, as hundreds of families will be uprooted to follow jobs that may be two hours away. Many will be unable to make that kind of commute."
Dolan also said that moving work out of province and offshore “is an attempt to bust the union and destroy the hard-fought gains of Canadian workers”, but Bell said that none of these changes will result in any outsourcing or offshoring of work.
“All of the employees affected will be offered the opportunity to find a new position at Bell; any that do not find a new position and depart will be offered severance packages”, continues the spokesperson’s response.
– Cartt.ca staff
