Note: This story includes an update on terms and a statement from Telus’s president and CEO.
By Ahmad Hathout
VANCOUVER – The bargaining committee of the union representing thousands of Telus workers said Friday that most members have agreed to a new deal with the telecom giant, averting a strike.
The committee of the United Steelworkers Local 1944, which consists of 6,800 Telus workers, said 70 per cent of members agreed to the four-year deal, which includes incremental step-ups in compensation through October 2026.
The committee held meetings with members over the course of this week gathering votes, after it had agreed to the tentative offer from Telus. The term begins in April and ends on March 31, 2027.
“You the members have spoken, and you have voted to follow the bargaining committee’s recommendation and ratify Telus’s offer,” Donna Hokiro, president of the union, said in a video address Friday.
“I understand that not everyone is happy with this agreement; in fact, I suspect few are,” Hokiro added. “Nonetheless, the majority have indeed spoken and have accepted the offer such as it is. We will emerge from this ratification strong and united in our union’s principles and collectively push for more engagement going forward.”
The committee also said it is training members to report any violations of the agreement.
“We are extremely pleased that our team members have voted to accept the new agreement, which effectively balances the needs of our team members, customers and shareholders, while enabling our collective success in a highly competitive and dynamic marketplace,” said Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful to our team members for their commitment to strengthening the exceptional culture we have built together. The ratification of this agreement secures a strong future for our team and enables us to focus on delivering outstanding experiences for the benefit of our customers and the many stakeholders we serve.”
The agreement caps off 16 months of negotiations, which included rejections of offers. Late last month, the union was moving toward gathering support for a strike vote before the committee agreed to the Telus offer.
Screenshot of Donna Hokiro from Friday’s video address
