VANCOUVER – Telecommunications Workers Union members voted 64.1% in favor of the latest contract offer from Telus, finally ending the four-month-long strike.
The company and union had a negotiated settlement in October but it was narrowly defeated during the initial in-person vote (50.3% voted against the deal last time around.
In this mail-in ballot, 10,566 members voted (about 1,500 more than last time, 7,258 in favour of the deal.
The terms and conditions of the new collective agreement now become effective as of November 20, 2005. 64.1 per cent of the 10,566 employees who voted during the ratification process accepted the agreement.
Within 72 hours, Telus will begin the complex process of bringing approximately 8,200 striking employees back to work over the next two weeks.
The company has nearly 14,000 employees and many – especially in Alberta – were ignoring picket lines.
"I am thankful our unionized employees have accepted a negotiated agreement that recognizes their role in our continued success and provides Telus with the capability we need to compete effectively,” said Darren Entwistle, CEO, in a press release.
Highlights of the collective agreement include:
* Five-year agreement effective November 20, 2005 to November 19, 2010.
* Compensation consistent with agreement implemented by Telus on July 22, 2005 with base pay increases of 2.0 or 2.5 per cent in each of 2005 and 2006 and 2.0 per cent in 2007 and beyond, plus cost of living adjustments in 2009 and 2010. In addition to base pay, variable pay based on achieving corporate and business unit targets. At target, variable pay would be 3 per cent of base earnings in 2005, 4 per cent in 2006 and 5 per cent in 2007 and beyond.
* Alberta employees’ wages will be harmonized with similar positions in B.C. over the duration of this agreement.
* Consistent with Telus’ previously disclosed estimates, the payments for retroactive service since the expiry of previous collective agreements and other lump sums payable on ratification total approximately $200 million. A portion of this amount has already been paid out to working bargaining unit members in the third quarter and the balance is expected to be paid out by the end of 2005.
* Contracting out provisions that provide Telus with improved flexibility in a competitive telecoms market while addressing the employment security concerns of employees.
* Specific provisions have been provided for employees impacted by the outsourcing of non-core functions or the consolidation of some customer service and administrative functions. These provisions include high quality voluntary severance packages consistent with past Telus practice, or the opportunity to be redeployed within Telus’ core operations.
* Foundation for a renewed and constructive union management relationship, including establishment of a Common Interest Forum and an agreement between the parties to work together to withdraw all outstanding Canada Industrial Relations Board cases and other legal proceedings.
The ratified agreement concludes the complex five-year process of merging six separate collective agreements, formerly represented by five different unions, into one.
"We’re pleased our members have decided to move forward," said TWU president Bruce Bell. "We’ve become a national union in an expanding industry. The potential is enormous. It’s time for Telus and the TWU to work together and build a relationship that benefits all of our members.
"This labour dispute has been a challenging time for everyone," added Bell. "The courts, the Canada Industrial Relations Board and the Federal Liberals didn’t do us any favours. Not all of our members are happy with the deal. But it’s good to be back at work in time for Christmas."
