Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

Canadians back incumbent telcos, says telco-sponsored survey

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENTARY: Status quo is gone

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…. Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Stentor Alliance revived (sort of) as VOIP appeal made official

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Heated rhetoric marks Telus strike

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus wins picketing injunction

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus confirms offer implementation as union “gets it on”

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus strike imminent

VANCOUVER – Telecommunications Workers Union president Bruce Bell told CKNW radio host Bill Good yesterday that Telus employees will strike on Friday. That’s the date Telus said it would unilaterally impose its latest, last, contract offer on its workers, whether their union approves or not. After four and a half long years without a contract (and without a raise for employees) Telus is fed up, vice-president of corporate affairs Drew McArthur told www.cartt.ca Wednesday. The union has simply refused to budge, not even putting Telus’ contract offer to a vote among its members. Telus first tabled the offer in… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Kicking ’em while they’re down, Rogers Telecom expands into B.C. Lower Mainland

TORONTO – With the headlines in British Columbia and Alberta touting the Telus strike which began today, Rogers Telecom announced it’s expanding its local phone service further into the Lower Mainland of B.C., adding five more communities to its coverage area. Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and the Newton area of Surrey are the main communities. With today’s announcement, Rogers Telecom facilities (formerly the Sprint Canada network, which Rogers purchased earlier this year) are now co-located in 160 wire centres across Canada. "Residents and businesses in these Lower Mainland communities will now have a choice when it comes to selecting a… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus, union, continue battle

BURNABY, B.C. – With a looming deadline, Telus and the Telecommunications Workers Union continue to squabble. "Telus’s plan to bribe our members into accepting their unilaterally-imposed deal is not working," said TWU president Bruce Bell, in the latest of the union’s string of press releases. As reported here last week, Telus has decided to impose a contract on its workers, who have been working based on its most recent deal, which expired over four years ago. Telus wants to force a vote of the union membership. The TWU is resisting such a move saying that the contract has not… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Recent radio growth deep, sustainable, says Cassaday

TORONTO – With huge top and bottom line growth in radio, Corus Entertainment today went to some lengths to show that it isn’t just happenstance or an anomaly, but a broad-based resurgence. The company’s third quarter results, released Thursday, showed the company’s radio profits surged by 21% on a 12% increase in ad revenue. For public companies, this is always challenging. It’s great news now, but then the company is under pressure to grow even more next year. Company CEO John Cassaday showed financial analysts late Thursday afternoon how broadly-based the spike in ad revenue is, saying 12… Continue Reading