OTTAWA – The craft and services employees who yesterday rejected Bell Canada’s latest contract offer by a 59-per-cent majority were in essence rejecting the concession demands put forward by Bell, concerning the extension of their work week, among others, said a union press release.
“From the start, bargaining has been difficult because Bell is demanding clawbacks from our members,” said John Edwards, administrative vice-president, Ontario, for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), which represents 5,000 craft and services employees working for Bell in Ontario and Quebec.
Edwards said Bell’s craft and services employees are rejecting the company’s demand that the work week be extended to 40 hours from the current 37.5 hours. Other concession demands rejected by the employees include a reduction of certain bonuses and the elimination of others, and several concessions related to work organization, concerning reassignments, travel allowances, call-back and other work-related matters.
Bargaining between the two sides has been going on since last October. Edwards said Bell had submitted a series of clawback demands in its first contract offer, which was rejected in March by an 88-per-cent majority.
In the upcoming days, union officers will continue to examine the various options and consult the local bargaining committees, Edwards said.
“Whatever happens, Bell understands that we will not give up gains that we have fought for over more than 30 years,” Edwards said.
