VANCOUVER – Two of the country’s biggest unions say they’re happy that Verizon has decided against entering Canada’s wireless market, but stress that should not take public focus off the problems plaguing the telecommunications industry.
The newly merged Telecommunication Workers Union (TWU) and United Steelworkers (USW) said Monday that they support parliamentary hearings and on-going public debate about Canada’s telecommunications policy.
"We clearly and consistently pointed out that giving Verizon preferential access to Canada's wireless infrastructure and spectrum would be a bad deal for Canadian workers and consumers," said Lee Riggs, national president of the TWU, which represents 13,000 Telus, Shaw and other employees, in a statement. "Now we want to ensure that the government does not rush into another failed policy direction in telecommunications."
"Right off the bat, we should maintain existing limits on foreign ownership of telecommunications," added USW national director Ken Neumann. "Too many working people and communities have already borne the brunt of foreign takeovers of Inco, Stelco, Alcan and other formerly Canadian companies. The Investment Canada Act falls far short of what is needed to ensure that foreign investment truly helps Canadian workers, families and communities".
