MONTREAL – The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ Union of Canada has recommended its 5,000 craft and services technicians represented by the union accept the latest proposed settlement negotiated with the union during three days of talks last weekend.
Members narrowly voted down the last proposed offer in April, with 59% voting against.
"This is a welcome outcome of three days of intense negotiations," said Patrick Pichette, president, operations, for Bell Canada. "The engagement of CEP President Dave Coles, with the national leadership of the union, in support of the local bargaining committee was instrumental in moving our discussions forward."
The proposed settlement Bell reached with the CEP on May 5 was the result of direct negotiations between senior executives of the company, the union bargaining committee and the CEP’s national leadership. The union leadership presented the proposed settlement today to its national caucus of local presidents who voted to recommend acceptance.
The 5,000 technicians involved mainly serve business customers in major urban centres of Ontario and Québec. Other technicians are not impacted, including those who support Bell Mobility, Bell’s residential wireline, Sympatico and ExpressVu services, Bell Aliant (including Atlantic Canada and non-urban areas of Ontario and Québec) and Bell Western Region.
"This has been a very difficult set of negotiations," said Coles. "But considering the current circumstances in Ontario and Quebec, this is a reasonable offer."
Members will be voting on the offer at meetings in Ontario and Quebec, to be held over the next few weeks.
