VANCOUVER – A strong performance by the company’s wireless division helped lead Telus Corporation to strong revenue and income growth in the second quarter of 2005, ended June 30th.
Consolidated operating revenues in the quarter came in at $2 billion, up 8% from a year ago while operating income was up 24%. Earnings per share for the second quarter were 53 cents, up 10% compared from Q2 2004 and net income was $189.5 million, a 10% increase.
While praising the company’s results Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle also addressed the current strike by its employees in British Columbia…
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BURNABY – While the second quarter press release still intimated Telus may not launch its terrestrial digital television service, CEO Darren Entwistle told financial analysts today in a conference call that Telus TV’s launch is a matter of when, not if.
The when will come once the company’s labour problem is finalized. While the company has imposed its latest contract offer after 4.5 years of going without a contract with its workers, the union called a general strike.
Today, the company said 70% of its unionized workers nationally are still coming in to work and that the two sides will…
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VANCOUVER – In a decision rendered late Wednesday, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta issued an interim order that addresses the concerns that led to Telus disabling access to the www.voices-for-change.com web site.
Telus had blocked the union-supported site from view of any of its Internet subscribers.
According to a Telus press release, the Alberta Court order prohibits the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) and its members and anyone else having knowledge of the order from posting for public viewing on any website any photographs or identifying features with the intent of intimidating or threatening Telus employees, contractors,…
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GATINEAU – Full marks for decision speed on this one as Telus today received its broadcast distribution undertaking license.
The hearing on the license was on June 6th.
The license is for the following regions: Rimouski, Saint-Georges, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Montmagny and Sainte-Marie, and their surrounding areas – the same wired coverage regions of the company’s regional telephone division, Telus Quebec (once known as Quebectel).
www.crtc.gc.ca
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BURNABY, BC – After a bit of plant damage on the weekend resulted in some customers losing their phone service – with the union getting the blame – the war of words just keeps getting hotter out west.
"Telus issued a bulletin today admitting what we’ve been saying all along," said Telecommunications Workers Union vice-president Peter Massy, in a press release. "After days of innuendo portraying our members as vandals, the company acknowledged that our members had nothing to do with the damage that occurred in Burnaby.
"A Telus media spokesperson spun the story to the press that damage…
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I WAS A UNION MEMBER TWICE: For several summers as a labourer installing gas pipeline in Northern Ontario and for a four month stint as a part-time Bookmobile driver and librarian in Guelph, Ont.
I lived for a few years in Sault Ste. Marie and saw what the Steelworkers have had to go through there with Algoma Steel. I lived in Windsor for three years and the Canadian Auto Workers union was always front and centre.
I say all this to illustrate that I think I have a bit of a grasp on what the union/corporation relationship can be….
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TORONTO – A survey released today done on behalf of Bell Canada, Aliant, Sasktel, Télébec and Telus says that Canadians want their incumbent telephone companies to be free of regulation when it comes to offering voice over Internet protocol telephony.
“Ninety-four percent agree that all VOIP service providers, including established telephone companies like Bell Canada, Aliant, SaskTel, Télébec, and Telus, should be subject to the same regulatory rules (38% believe this strongly),” says Wednesday’s press release on the survey done by Ipsos-Reid.
Furthermore: • Three-quarters believe traditional telephone companies should be allowed to compete and offer lower prices for…
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OTTAWA – All the regional telcos used to work together to lobby the government like this under the old Stentor Alliance – an working group that was disbanded years ago when they all decided to compete with one another.
Today, the remaining former Stentor members (with one notable exception) held a joint press conference to make official their appeal to Federal Cabinet over the CRTC’s voice over Internet protocol decision.
The decision, as reported on numerous occasions by www.cartt.ca, says that incumbent telcos have to abide by existing telecom regulations in the way of win-back rules, tariff applications, and…
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VANCOUVER – Late on Friday, the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted an injunction sought by Telus against the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) over the union’s picketing practices.
The injunction is to ensure safe access to the company’s locations and its customers’ locations in British Columbia, says Telus
The injunction prevents TWU union members from: * Picketing at, on or near Telus’ premises or customers’ premises in a manner that blocks, obstructs or impedes access to and from the premises. * Impeding, blockading or obstructing persons adjacent to or in the vicinity of all Telus locations and customer locations…
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VANCOUVER – Responding to its employees’ walkout, Telus today confirmed that it will implement certain terms and conditions of its comprehensive offer of settlement with its unionized workers on July 22.
"Our offer recognizes the contributions of our team members and effectively addresses the needs of Telus, our customers and our shareholders," said Darren Entwistle, Telus president and CEO. "It would make Telus’ unionized team members among the best paid telecommunications professionals in Canada, provide employment security and give Telus the flexibility it needs to compete on an even playing field with its competitors."
Telus has implemented a comprehensive…
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