BURNABY, B.C. – The Telecommunications Workers Union has added another step to its battle with Telus.
“In response to the company’s refusal to bargain, the union is upping the ante,” says the press release. Two weeks ago, as reported by www.cartt.ca, TWU initiated an overtime ban as well as a ban on relieving management. Effective today, Wednesday, June 29, it is instructing those of its members who take their company vehicles home after work to return them to Telus by the end of their shift on Thursday, June 30th.
Union president Bruce Bell explained the reasons for its concern: "Telus is demanding that we put its money offer to our membership for a vote. Bell Canada used this same strategy against the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers several years ago. The CEP membership rejected Bell Canada’s proposal three times because it contained no job protection language. But each time the CEP members voted ‘No’, Bell Canada increased its money offer," he recounted.
"On the fourth try, Bell Canada upped the ante enough to persuade a small majority of CEP members to vote ‘Yes’. Then, once the one-sided proposal was ratified, the company sold off its operator service division and contracted out operator services. Not long after that, the company contracted out its craft work, as well," he stressed.
Plus, when Telus purchased BC Tel, says the union, the company hired Stephen Bedard, Telus’ vice-president labor relations, the man who was Bell Canada’s chief negotiator in the negotiations with the CEP to head its negotiating team against the TWU.
