TORONTO – Canada’s largest unions continued their opposition today to the federal government’s refusal to budge on a wireless policy that would give Verizon preferential treatment if it were to enter the Canadian market.
Two of those unions are taking their “keep Verizon out of Canada” message to the streets in a rally planned for this Friday in Toronto.
A media advisory released today by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Canadian Auto Workers said members are planning to protest the federal government's decision to allow U.S. telco giant Verizon to compete in Canada’s telecommunications market with an organized march through the city’s downtown.
“There is the falsity being circulated right now that allowing Verizon in Canada will automatically lower costs for consumers,” said CAW president Ken Lewenza in the statement. “Not only will this not be the case, Canadian jobs are at stake.”
The rally will take place in advance of a convention organized by CEP and CAW that marks the two unions’ merger. The new union, which will include employees of Bell, Allstream, and Telus as members, will be known as Unifor.
Meanwhile, the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) and the United Steelworkers (USW), said today they oppose what they describe as the federal government’s plan to “hand over a windfall entry into Canada for Verizon.”
“Stephen Harper plans to give Verizon not just a welcome mat, but privileged access to the Canadian market and a free ride on the back of networks that our members have built,” said Lee Riggs, TWU National president, in a release. “It defies common sense.”
The TWU, which represents almost 12,000 Telus workers across Canada, is currently in talks with the USW to merge the two unions.
