The Official Publication of September 2002 the Telecommunications Vol. )0(1V Workers Union TheTransmitter No. 4

BROADWAY Eigaget2 PRINTERS

Office closures, massive cuts to service, staff

In June, TELUS announced nine communities, eliminating more than $6 billion to acquire The Union organized a office in their community buyout offers to members as about 1,800 positions. It will Clearnet. series of public meetings to closes. part of a plan to cut the reduce the number of telephone TWU President Rod Hiebert draw attention to the The Union has taken steps unionized workforce, currently company employees in a has called for the replacement destructive nature of the to reassure members that they about 17,000, by 5000. number of smaller of TELUS CEO Darren company's plans, and activists are being given false On July 11, the other shoe communities, and eliminate Entwistle, a commitment to have made presentations to a information, and that even if dropped. them entirely from others. provide quality service, and number of city and municipal they are facing an office TELUS announced plans to Areas affected include operator retention of service in local councils. Public response to closure, they are not facing a close offices and phone stores services, repair service; communities. the Union initiative has been layoff in BC and Alberta as part of its customer care, telemarketing Shareholders and financial overwhelming positive. As recently as August 20, cost-cutting initiative. and credit and collections. analysts appear to have reached Meanwhile, TELUS incorrect information was The plan will see the closure The Union has blasted the a conclusion similar to that of managers have been pressuring being spread by some of 33 of the 40 phone stores, cuts in staff and service as "a the Union, as share prices employees to take a buyout managers, and the Union was leaving three major stores in devastating and unwarranted dropped sharply after the package and leave the forced to respond with the BC (Victoria, Vancouver and attack on communities, announcement of cutbacks, and workforce, in many cases following message: Burnaby) and four in Alberta customers and workers." precipitously after the implying or saying outright that (two in Edmonton and two in The Union attributes the announcement of a major they will be without work if the (See 'Company', page eight) Calgary). This initiative will company's shaky financial downgrading of the company's have a direct impact on about situation on mismanagement status by a bond rating agency 250 workers. and bad investment decisions, shortly after the July 11 cuts Buyout offers revised Of more significance in particularly the decision to pay were announced. story, page three terms of numbers of employees, the company also plans to consolidate and close call centres. The total number TELUS seeks 'concessions and worse' of call centers will drop from Our members at TELUS based largely on factors such as bargaining is taking place as contract they want," says Bell. 66 in 20 communities to 28 in have been working nearly two skills and qualifications, important issues are being "But what we are finding is that years now without a revised irrespective of seniority. considered by the federal it is firming up the MAI LPOSTE collective agreement, and They want to do away with Labour Board, most notably, determination of the Canada Post Corporation 'Societe canadienne des posies Postage paid Port page contract talks can be described our broad contracting out the issue of the status of membership to resist." Publications Number at best as moving at a snail's rights, with contracting out Clearnet within the bargaining The cuts to service and to the 1461214 pace. And that's an optimistic protections applying only to unit. (As you will see in a workforce have led not just to VANCOUVER, B.C. way of looking at it. core functions, as defined by related story elsewhere in this unhappy workers, but also to Actually, the bargaining the company. Similarly, they issue, the Clearnet application unhappy customers, and to situation is even worse than propose to gut the work appears to be still months away unhappy shareholders. The that, says Vice-President Bruce jurisdiction clause. from resolution.) new "get tough" approach has Bell. What we see is bargaining Also of crucial important to nothing positive for anyone, As bad as the slow process of form without substance, and members, bargaining is taking and they are paying the price of talks is, Bell says, the more what substance there is can place now in the shadow of a in business terms as well as frustrating problem stems from only be described as entirely major initiative by TELUS to industrial relations terms. what the company is seeking at negative for workers, says Bell. downsize the workforce, and It is important for the the bargaining table. "It would appear that in the company's level of service membership to understand the "It is all negative," says Bell. pursuing this radical departure to the public. Union has no intention of "Concessions, and worse. The from accepted bargaining In July, the company playing the company's game, company is proposing nothing practice, the company is announced plans to reduce the says Bell, no intention of lying but takeaways. There is not the banking on a cowed and workforce by 6,000, including down and letting management slightest suggestion TELUS complacent membership 5,000 bargaining unit roll over our members and their has any desire or intention of accepting what is being dished personnel (see related story). hard-won rights. building on the existing out. The Union believes Part and parcel of this slashing What we need from our agreement, or of offering TELUS is seriously of the workforce is a plan to members, he says, is continued anything positive to the miscalculating the mood and close the majority of phone support for our efforts and membership. TELUS has resolve of the membership. stores, down from 40 to seven, determination to resist the made it clear they want to tear From our travels around B.C. and to consolidate call centres, gutting of the collective down what has been negotiated and Alberta, meeting with eliminating more than half the agreement. over the years and decades, and members throughout the existing 66, a move which will "Come out to local replace it with an agreement company, it is evident to us that hit smaller communities meetings, stay informed, resist that strips away hard-won the vast majority of the particularly hard. It will also company efforts to panic or rights and seriously weakens membership is not buying the place enormous pressure on stampede members into hasty our members' position within company line, and will fight for members remaining in those decisions about your future, the workforce." what they believe in to secure communities. and together we can work to The company wants to water a decent collective agreement." "Clearly the company is protect your jobs and your down the job posting The Company's stubborn- hoping the threat of job loss and futures," Bell says. procedure, or more accurately, ness at the bargaining table severe disruptions in the "In the past, the workers Bell says, to gut the job posting must be seen within the wider workplace will weaken the have always prevailed when we procedure, moving away from context of their strategy. The resolve of members and allow stick together. We will remain seniority to a posting procedure slow pace and negative tone of them to virtually impose the rock solid again this time."

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear TWU: worked very hard to serve the well with David Winter in the Basic received a raise in their compensation, Retirement thanks Thank you for the $1000 cheque, membership and I encourage all Shop Steward class in a very large in Entwistle's case, 90% over last The Dear TWU: honourary life membership and letter members to support their Union. Week 1. Tamara Marshall also did a year. It is outrageous that such a poor I wish to thank you for my $1000 presented to me on my retirement. benefits we receive aren't due to great job and, as discussed, helped performer would receive an increase cheque, honourary life membership, I enjoyed my participation in the largess on the part of the company we lower the average age of our instructor in salary. Further, as a shareholder, I pin and letter on the occasion of my TWU and especially liked working work for but a result of good team. It is important for us to continue am increasingly annoyed at the retirement on May 30th, after 36 years with Lila Wing and Kathy Pearn when bargaining by our Union to integrate new, younger instructors disproportionately high salaries that with BC Tel and TELUS. I was in Local 23. Keep up the good representatives. into the School for it to continue in CEOs receive, Nortel CEO John Roth Good luck and thanks for the They have been very enjoyable fight. its pre-eminent position. All is the star in taking shareholders down years. Thank you again. In solidarity, memories. instructors would be eagerly the drain while increasing his personal Yours truly, Shirley Archaambault Sister Drina Latrace welcomed at future schools. wealth. Entwistle is part of the same Stephanie Williams Local 20 Local 51 It was a pleasure working with discrediting bunch of CEOs. Local 11 Dear TWU: Dear TWU: Bruce Bell and Rod Hiebert to fit your Apart from losing a hard-earned Dear TWU: I would like to express my thanks From party line to wireless - what TWU instructors into the School. I investment, I am embarrassed to be Thank you for the $1000 cheque, to all of my friends who came to a time! When I started at BC need the instructors to deliver our associated with TELUS based on the the letter and the honourary life celebrate my retirement on March 1, Telephone in June 1963 the residential program, but it is also my hostility that has been exhibited by membership. I enjoyed my 30 plus 2002. installation charge was $6.00, rental responsibility to help develop your Entwistle toward his employees and years with BC Tel and considered It was wonderful seeing all my old of the telephone line including a black own union's instructors. I hope that their union. He has taken his company myself very lucky to be able to take friends from Operator Services FW1 dial set was $6.25 per month. A we can continue in a mutually from a place that long enjoyed the buyout 6 years ago. Life has been Unit 3 and my friends from Mobility coloured set was a one-time fee of beneficial way. Your acquisition of reasonable employer-employee very busy but very good. and out of town friends and family — $9.00 and the use of a longer cord was Alberta membership has obviously relationships to one where there is Thank you again. thank you for coming. an extra charge too. Now computers, increased the demands in your own apparently abuse, bullying, and a In solidarity, Special thanks to the roasters/ fax and answering machines, call union. I'm pleased that we have been virtual unwillingness to negotiate or Pat Springman presenter: Dolly Storey, Martha Fast, management features, e-mail, cellular able to provide Brenda Makeechak to talk with the union. Nelson Dana White, Chris Latrace, Neil — the workplace has definitely do initial instructor training, and use To quote the social investment Dear TWU: Cusati, Lorne and Lisa Fairgrieve and changed! some of those instructors at the Winter leader Deb Abbey of Real Assets, I wish to thank the TWU for the Peter Massy. They restrained Thank you for the Life School to broaden their knowledge "Long-term shareholder value can honourary life membership, pin & themselves and only told the nice Membership in the TWU, the cheque and abilities. best be achieved when all cheque for $1000 presented by stories which was greatly appreciated for $1000, the mailing of the Again, many thanks to Rod stakeholders — including employees Brother Rod Giddens on behalf of the as my whole family were there. Also "Transmitter" and my pension. Hiebert and Bruce Bell for your — are empowered to make themselves TWU. It has been my pleasure to thanks to my friends in Operator Sincerely, assistance and cooperation. I look heard and treated fairly" (Real Assets. support the TWU for the last 36 years. Service, Kamloops for their lovely Donna Harder forward to working with both of you Real Change Volume 1 — Issue 4 As a member I have enjoyed the best retirement best wishes. Local 50 and 1 in future years. Summer 2002). Under Entwistle's of benefits and working conditions. I would also like to thank the In solidarity, leadership this is not the case. Further For this I thank a strong union Union and membership for giving me Dear TWU: David Rice Ms. Abbey points out, "Labour unions leadership and members. I wish all of the opportunity over the past 35+ I recently retired from TELUS Regional Director, are often necessary to redress the you continued success. years to serve in many capacities. It after 31 years, the last years on CLC balance of power between employers Yours sincerely in solidarity, is with great pride I can say I am a disability benefits. I would like to and employees." Dave Peterson, Local 5 member of the TWU. Our Union has thank the TWU for their support and This letter was sent by Mae As a shareholder I would like to services over the years. I would also Burrows, a member of the Executive see Entwistle replaced, a conciliatory EDMONTON OFFICE CALGARY OFFICE like to express my thanks for the of the Vancouver and District Labour process initiated immediately to #103 - 10525-170 Street #255 - 525-28 St. S.E. retirement gift of a cheque for $1,000 Council, to the Chair of the Board of restore the respect for the employees Edmonton, Alta, T5P 4W2 Calgary, Alta, T2A 6W9 and the Honourary Life Membership Directors of TELUS and their representative union, and a certificate and the pin. Dear Mr. Canfield: more creative solution than massive Ph. 780-444-6945 Ph. 403-237-6990 I look forward to receiving the Fax: 403-802-2381 I am writing as a shareholder in lay-offs to the debt Entwistle has Fax: 780-488-6911 Transmitter and the opportunity to TELUS to express my extreme created. Perhaps Entwistle should keep in touch with the members. dissatisfaction with the performance personally assume responsibility for Yours truly, of CEO Darren Entwistle. I bought his poor decision-making and overall Gerald Westgarde, shares in TELUS as part of an ethical performance and start paying off TWU phone ...(6043 437.8601 Houston social investment portfolio managed TELUS's debt himself as due Dear TWU: by Perry Abbey of United Securities. retribution. First, I would like to thank the I am now urging United to no longer I look forward to your response to TWU for my $1,000 retirement include TELUS as an ethical the issues I have raised in this letter. cheque. investment based on the poor working Mae Burrows, TWU fax (604) 435-7760 Second, I am grateful for the good relationship Entwistle has with Burnaby, BC wages and excellent benefits I TELUS workforce, the poor received as a TELUS employee. investment decisions he has made and Lastly, I am grateful for the the fact that he is now attempting to Scholarship monthly TWU pension cheque I will dig out the debt he incurred by be receiving. creating unemployment in numerous Pension Plan All of the above things were made communities through his abrupt and winners office ..... (604) 430-1317 , possible by hard fought negotiations drastic lay-offs. Unemployment not The names of the winners of and the commitment of the TWU to only impacts negatively on our seven TWU scholarships for improve the working conditions of its communities, but a reduced workforce the post-secondary 2002 members. will also have a negative impact on academic year have been Well done, and again, thank you. TELUS service. In solidarity, announced. TWU hotline ..(604) 435-2224 Further, I am requesting that the Marianne Klos, TELUS Board of Directors call a Five scholarships worth Operator Services, special general meeting of $1,000 each have been awarded Local 11, Victoria shareholders to review Entwistle's to: Dear TWU: and his executive group's Terra Pritchard of Port Hardy, TWU Webeite addresses; Thank you for the honourary life performance and compensation BC (parent, Henry Pritchard, TWU Horne Page: http://www.twu-canada.ca membership and the $1,000 cheque I packages. I would like to see Local 35). received on my retirement. TW Pension Plan: Entwistle replaced by a manager more Najjla Kuzyk of Edmonton I appreciate the hard work the http://www.twu-canada.ceitwpp/pptoc.htm sensitive to his employees and (parent, Allison Kuzyk, Local TW Benefit Plan: TWU has done for its members during community, not to mention with 207). http://wwvv.twu-canada.cattwbpibphome.htm my 36 years and 11 months of sharper financial acumen. TWU Email Address (Union Office): employment at BC TEL/TELUS. Obviously the impulsive purchase Jordon Soet of Burnaby twuOtwu-oanada.ca Irene Andonian, of ClearNet for $6 billion was a (parent Len Soet, Local 51). TW Pension end Benefit Plans: GT&PS Vancouver grievous error. Estimates put the Sukhveer Clair of Burnaby generalOtwp lens. corn purchase at three times a reasonable (parent Surinder Clair, Local 5). CLC thanks value for the Company. The debt that Alexander Thomson of Prince has resulted from that poor decision George, BC (parent Robert Dear TWU: has meant a serious devaluation of my Thomson, Local 9). I would like to thank the TWU for stocks, but moreover, Entwistle's tired Two scholarships worth $750 your considerable contribution and uncreative response to this TheTransmitter toward the 2002 Harrison Winter each have been awarded to: unnecessary self-created debt is to School. There have always been many Teresa Agar of Port Member of suddenly lay off 6,000 people. Our TWU students at the Winter School communities do not need further Coquitlam, BC (parent Barry The Transmitter is the offi- Canadian Association and this year was no exception. The unemployment. And I must add that Agar, Local 7). cial publication of the of Labour instructors provided by your union all Telecommunications CALM Media TELUS does not need worse service Aleeza Mohamed of Calgary Association did an excellent job as part of our Workers Union. canadienne for its customers. (parent Salim Mohamed, Local de la presse Winter School team. ACPS syndicate I am displeased with the 204). Cheryl Tellier again did an information that there is considerable New procedures for Editor: Myron Johnson excellent job with her Facing coercion to force employees awarding TWU scholarships President: Rod Hiebert Management class, and Monte (predominantly female) to accept were adopted this year to Vice-Presidents: Neil Morrison S. Bruce Bell Worthington again excelled in the "voluntary" buy-out and early Bect.-Tressurer: Jim Christensen Parliamentary Procedures and Public include the expanded 5261 Lane Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6 retirement packages. On top of this, Speaking class. Brian Elliot worked Entwistle and his executive have membership base in Alberta. TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 2 VDIP revised, ERIP the same, TELUS disconnect

From July 19 Edmonton Sun directors and upper TELUS adds money to TWPP Contrary to its slogan, the management. Shareholders future is anything but friendly certainly don't. TELUS TELUS has revised the members 12 months salary plus The second VDIP option at TELUS these days. With an shares were trading at around financial incentive plans it $500 per year of service up to a would remain as offered in anaemic stock price, loaded $41 when Entwistle took over. announced in June to maximum of 30 years, or June, that is, a maximuml8 with $8.8 billion in debt and They now languish at just over shedding staff, the future for encourage members to leave $15,000. As an example, an months salary plus a maximum $10 and pay a smaller $20,000, but the member who the giant telecommunications dividend to boot. It's hardly the workforce, and has agreed employee with 30 years service company is looking downright accepts that option would not just Bay Street fat-cats who to put money into the earning $55,000 will be offered grim. be eligible for a TWPP pension have watched their TELUS Telecommunication Workers $70,000. Normally, the performance investment dwindle — all those until age 65. Pension Plan to partially What has changed is the (or lack thereof) of a specific Albertans who accumulated compensate the plan for the Voluntary Departure Initiative A third option originally private company isn't worth TELUS shares over the years additional burden imposed by (VDIP), aimed at members proposed by TELUS, the commenting about, but have been hammered. early retirements. under the age of 55 with at least "Continuance", has been TELUS is no ordinary Unionized staff don't In mid-September, the 10 years service. It was withdrawn by the company. company. For many seem to have any confidence trustees of the TWPP originally a richer package than TELUS has also agreed to Albertans, it's still their in the management either. A company. The former Alberta endorsed the company's the ERIP, offering up to 18 put additional money into the couple of weeks ago the Government Telephones offer to beef up the plan, and months salary, one month for TWPP, in response to Union union called for Entwistle to privatization itself as AGT in be fired. While one the Union's Executive each of 18 years of service, plus and trustee concerns over the 1990 through a share offering negative financial impact on telecommunications analyst Council, after considerable $1,000 a year for up to 20 years that gave many ordinary says that TELUS has to deal debate, has endorsed it as service. So as an example, a the Plan as a result of the Albertans an opportunity to with "one of the most well. $50,000/year employee with 20 buyouts. The company will buy a piece of the action. militant unions in the The telephone company years service would have make up a portion of the For years the company country", we suspect made three offers to members received $95,000 total. shortfall created by the ERIP, rechristened TELUS in 1996, Albertans who have watched in June in an effort to reduce However, as the company and a portion of the shortfall was a very good deal: the their TELUS investment the unionized workforce by agreed to put additional money resulting from the VDIP. share price appreciated slowly shrink are tending to find but surely, and the company 5,000. Of the three, only one into the pension plan, it also TELUS also indicated, as the their sympathies lie with the paid a very generous dividend remains the same as originally scaled back the amount of the Transmitter was going to press, workers, not management. to shockholders. And that sympathy proposed. VDIP payment, breaking it into that pension estimate Then the high-tech stock information would be going out probably grew when TELUS The Early Retirement two options. market mania of the late 1990s announced last week it is Incentive Plan (ERIP) remains Under the first VDIP option, to all ERIP-eligible plan took over and TELUS has cutting 6,000 employees unchanged. In BC, it covers which would allow the member members in mid-September. never been the same. Just a (including 1,000 managers) by members who have reached the to seek an unreduced pension Members have until month after Darren Entwistle the end of next year. While age of 55 with 25 years service, from the TWPP at age 55, the October 18 of this year to became TELUS CEO in the corporate downsizing is an or age 60 with less than 25 years company will provide an accept the ERIP or VDIP. summer of 2000, TELUS unfortunate reality of the service. (It is slightly different incentive equivalent to that of Those with specific questions purchased rival cellphone business world and something operator Clearnet for a for those members who come the ERIP, that is, one year's about their entitlement should that many companies have contact their respective whopping $6.6 billion — a price undergone, it is terribly sad under one of the Alberta pension salary plus $500 per year up to that was a staggering 53% pension offices. that the folks at the bottom of plans.) The ERIP offers eligible 30 years. premium over Clearnet's the ladder lose their jobs share price at the time. That because of decisions made at was the beginning of the long the top. slide down for TELUS from There is no quick fix for which it is still trying to TELUS. But we find it Debt rating cut to junk status recover. difficult to believe that the These days, you're hard- same management team that pressed to find folks (who led the company to this low By Roma Luciw The Moody's downgrade, local residential phone rates don't sit on the TELUS board) point can turn it around. Globe & Mail following a similar move by charged by TELUS and the other who have confidence in TELUS needs to hang up TELUS Corp.'s debt rating was Canada's Dominion Bond Rating major phone services. The ruling Entwistle, the board of on its current management. slashed to junk status by Moody's Service Ltd. earlier in July, will also reduced the fees that Investors Service, sending its increase pressure on TELUS alternative phone companies pay stock plummeting more than 20 executives as they try to control for access to the big telcos' per cent, in late July. costs and reduce the company's networks. Mystery writer dies The influential New York based debt load. Then in July, Moody's said debt rating agency said it is Some analysts have said TELUS faces "execution risk" The Guild Reporter/ and had to sign a release promising concerned that Canada's second Moody's carries more weight with on its downsizing and broader Newspaper Guild/CALM not to make any claim on the largest phone company is not investors because it is based in the business plan . The company may Mildred Augustine Wirt character and not to use pen name generating enough cash to pay United States. A downgrade by have "little flexibility to react to Benson, a member of the "Carolyn Keene," which was down debt, which was about $9- credit rating agencies can make it adverse developments" and few Newspaper Guild since 1944 and owned by the syndicate that put out billion at the end of the last year. more costly or difficult for options to boost cash flow a reporter for The Blade, died May the series. Moody's cited two recent companies to borrow money. If a because it has already reduced its 28 in Toledo Hospital. She was 96. A lawsuit between publishers in regulatory decisions that will reduce company's debt falls below dividends and has few assets to Although officially — if 1980 allowed Benson to TELUS's earnings before interest, investment grade, some sell, Moody's said. reluctantly — retired since the end of substantiate that she indeed wrote taxes, depreciation and amortization institutional investors, such as last year, Benson had continued the first Nancy Drew book and (EBITDA) by $300-million each pension or mutual funds, may be coming to The Blade once a week many of the later volumes. But year. In addition, the company's plan prevented from holding its bonds, to work on a monthly column. She despite this vindication, Benson to compete with rival Bell Canada debentures or other debt securities. was at her desk when she became ill was reluctant after 50 years of in Eastern Canada is consuming Earlier this month, July , First child? and was taken to the hospital, where public silence on the matter to cash and could cut into profit, TELUS announced plans to cut she suffered respiratory arrest. trumpet her achievement. Moody's noted. 6,000 jobs and streamline its CEP 1120 / The Local / Under her own name and The attention blossomed Moody's cut the senior operations to improve productivity CALM pseudonyms, Benson was the beginning in 1993, when the unsecured rating of TELUS to and cut costs in the wake of a A man spoke frantically writer of more than 130 books for University of Iowa — her alma Bal, a speculative, or junk rating, Canadian Radio television and into the phone, "My wife young people — including 23 of the mater — held a conference on the from Ban?, an investment grade Telecommunications Commission is pregnant and her first Nancy Drew mysteries. One widespread interest in Nancy rating. regulatory decision. contractions are only two year, while a reporter, she wrote Drew and invited her as a guest. The ratings agency called The job cuts, combined with more than a dozen children's Television, radio and newspaper minutes apart!" TELUS's debt outlook "negative" previous reductions, will have books. interviews followed by the score, and said that it may downgrade reduced the company's 28,000 "Is this her first child?" But for a half-century after the and she was inundated by fan senior unsecured debt further. member work force by slightly the doctor asked. initial Nancy Drew book appeared, mail and requests to sign her Shares of Vancouver-based more than 20 per cent when they "No, you idiot!" the man in 1930, Benson's identity as the books. TELUS fell 21 per cent or $1.95 are completed in 2003. shouted. "This is her writer who had shaped the teen At her death, Benson was to $7.20 in early afternoon trading In late May, the CRTC handed husband!" sleuth was largely unknown. She believed to be the oldest Guild on the Toronto Stock Exchange. down a ruling that essentially froze received a flat rate, no royalties member with active membership. TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 3 Court backs Union on. CIRB Decision 108 We are pleased to report that the courts have backed the Union in a dispute with TELUS on Canada Industrial Relations Board Decision 108. In Decision 108, the CIRB essentially ruled that as TELUS grew across Canada, the TWU would grow with it. TELUS did not like Decision 108, and appealed. On September 9, the Federal Court of Appeal issued a ruling upholding Decision 108 — an important victory for the TWU.

TWU delegates to CLC convention in Vancouver in June AFL questions govt motive for Labour Code changes

2 retiring CLC officers honoured From: Labour News Steel also points out that the Alberta Federation of Labour summer is the hardest time for The Alberta Tories have unions to participate in such a Calm appointed a special MLA review. "Why is it happening in the Delegates celebrated the achievements of two retiring officers at the CLC convention in committee to consider amending summer? Could it be they want to Vancouver in June. the Labour Code — but the Alberta discourage union participation?" "You've been my inspiration, my strength through difficult times. But I'm going now, I'm Federation of Labour is Steel says that Alberta's labour done and I'm going home to Newfoundland," said former secretary-treasurer Nancy Riche in questioning the government's real laws are already among the most response to the tributes and funny stories told by former CLC president Bob White, Elsa Ramos motivations. employer-leaning in the country. from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and others. "We think this could be a "It is very difficult to organize Trojan horse for the union busters Riche has been an officer since 1986 and secretary-treasurer since 1999 and has co-chaired workers in this province, the laws in the province," says AFL the Women's Committee for 16 years. She also steps down as head of the Women's Committee of are so stacked against the workers. President Les Steel. "The people What more do employers want? A the ICFTU. affected by the act — unionized ban on unions?" Retiring executive vice-president Jean-Claude Parrot said he'd "visit a few picket lines in the employers and employees — have Steel says the AFL will future but concentrate on paying back time to family." Before becoming executive vice-president not been calling for a review any mobilize its affiliates to respond in 1992, Parrot was president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. time soon. We think this is coming to this review to make sure Parrot opened his union to women and fought for maternity leave before anyone else took on from people who distrust unions labour's voice is heard. "Despite these issues. on principle." being the summer, we will get our Delegates elected Hassan Yussuff, who was an executive vice-president, to the position of Human Resources Minister members moving on this issue. We secretary-treasurer. They chose two new executive vice-presidents: Barbara Byers, president of Clint Dunford says he wants the have to. Too much is at stake." changes to the Code to be small, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour since 1988, and Marie Clarke Walker, a vice-president "Last time they reviewed the but Steel say he does not trust that Labour Code, it became the worst of the 14,000-member CUPE Local 4400, representing Toronto education workers. to happen. President Ken Georgetti was re-elected without challenge. in the country. Working people "We've heard the Minister's need to fight to make sure the same assurance, but we don't trust that thing doesn't happen again," Steel he can keep the issue under concluded. control. His track record in odmore wins Award of Excellence delivering on his promises lately has been poor," says Steel, Pensioners August 29 Vancouver Sun developer Michael Audain — as Expo 86, several of Concert's referring to recent political defeats BC's leading entrepreneur well as Ken Georgetti, planned communities in for the Minister, including the says Vancouver developer president of the Canadian Greater Vancouver and WCB Longstanding Claims Dinner David Podmore is a guy who Labour Congress. Harbourside Business Park on Tribunal and raising welfare rates. can get things done. Canada's Pattison calls Podmore " a the North Shore waterfront. The AFL is suspicious of the October 18 process involved in the new MLA top labour leader knows him as total team player" who is "great "David is straightforward, a straight shooter. His peers committee, to be chaired by Tory The TWU's annual at getting things done," while proficient, honest and good at MLA Richard Marz. "Why is it not recognize him as an excellent Brown, chair of Canaccord what he does," said Georgetti, Pensioners Dinner and Dance all-party committee?" asks Steel. for retired and disabled homebuilder, a dedicated Capital Corp., refers to another Concert co-founder "That decision alone makes it feel members will be held Friday, family man and a tireless Podmore as "one of the unsung along with Podmore and like the deck is stacked." community worker. October 18. guys in Canada." Poole. Location is the Operating Those qualities were exactly As CEO of Concert —jointly "He has the full confidence Louis Laberge Engineers Hall, 4333 Ledger what the Real Estate Institute owned by management and of the board of directors. Avenue, Burnaby. of BC was looking for when it union pension funds Concert's portfolio is looking passes in July Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner decided to name Podmore — co- at 7 p.m., dance at 9 p.m. representing some 200,000 very good over the long term. CLC/CALM founder, president and chief British Columbians — Podmore "The company has provided Working men and women Tickets are $15 per person. A executive officer of Concert juggles the investment needs of high-quality [housing] along throughout Quebec and across letter has been sent to all Properties Ltd. — the recipient both big business and the with solid returns and millions Canada have lost one of the great applicable members. Those wishing to attend should fill out of its first Award of Excellence. labour movement. of hours for unionized workers. working class heroes of the 20th "This award honours a century with the passing of Louis the form enclosed with the The company, established as It has really helped boost the Laberge, in July. member of our profession who Letter, and return it to the Union VLC Properties in 1989, BC economy. Laberge believed, passionately, office with a cheque payable to has shown outstanding initially to help fill Vancouver's "Some people doubted us that working people have a right to a the TWU to cover the cost of decent standard of living and to a fair leadership and contribution to need for affordable rental when we first started, but those tickets. share of the wealth produced through the realestate industry and to housing now boasts assets of detractors have turned into their community, while their labour and the hours they more than $500 million and grudging supporters." sacrifice in the service of others. It maintaining a balance between working capital exceeding For 2000-2001, Concert was was this passion and his leadership BOYCOTTS their professional and personal $240 million. selected by the Canadian Home that built the Quebec Federation of All readers are asked to life," said Stephen Mullock, Concert, which is among the Builders Association as the Labour (FTQ) into the force it is support the following trade president of the institute, which today. It was his vision that led to the province's largest development "best home-builder in BC." creation of the FTQ Solidarity Fund, union sponsored consumer represents all facets of the firms, is one the few that Concert's notable projects an idea that extended the power of the boycotts. Please do not industry. "David fit the bill exclusively employs union include Collingwood Village in workers from the shop floor into the patronize or purchase any of exactly." labour. east Vancouver, Arbutus Walk financial markets so their own money these goods, services and/or and savings would be used to the retail outlets: Mullock's praise for During his career, Podmore on the old Carling O'Keefe Podmore, 53, was endorsed by benefit of themselves, their families All Non-Union Postal has been responsible for more Brewery site near 12th and and communities. Outlets BC business luminaries — than $3.5-billion worth of Arbutus, Hemingway at "Brother Louis made a difference. Dispute with CUPW including Jim Pattison, Peter projects, including BC Place Oakridge, and Oscar at He leaves behind a legacy of change Philips Electronic Products, Brown, Jack Poole and fellow Stadium, the BC pavilion at Richards and Drake. and progress," said CLC President Ken Georgetti. Quebec TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 4 Okanagan supports campaign against cuts

A delegation of Local 16 3. Invite Daren Entwistle to members attended the Regional attend a CORD board meeting District of the Central and explain how TELUS Okanagan Meeting August 26. intends to provide service after After hearing a presentation the cuts. by Business Agent George The board members pointed Doubt the board members out that the City of Kelowna voted to do three things: was the first municipality to 1.Write to TELUS CEO and write to TELUS deploring the board of directors re- questing cuts. Copies of the letters from they reconsider the local office the CORD board will be sent Nanaimo's `blah blah 'sisterhood closures and job cuts. to the Peachland and Lake 2. Write to the CRTC asking Country Councils in hopes that By Peter Massy, BA Finally in the last days of management backed down. for a public hearing into they will take similar action. The "blah blah sisterhood", August, operator service However they would not put Access, Quality of Service and A similar presentation has as the Nanaimo operators refer management realized that some anything in writing and it took the proposed rate increases to also been made to Kamloops to themselves, walked out the of the Nanaimo operators were until September 5th at 4 pm to small business. City Council. Nanaimo operator services not walking away from their get them to do so. Too late for office for the last time on jobs until they had more some operators. September 6th, 2002. The information. Operators were You think that management Schedule of Office closures name blah blah sisterhood was given a list of offices to report would have given up with the coined early this year, when to on Sept 7th, the day after the pressure by this point. No, they Telus has announced the schedule for closures and consolidations one member who had heard Nanaimo closure. Interesting told operators who were going of call centre offices, beginning October 4, 2002. enough corporate nonsense in that all the operators with out of town that they had to The Nanaimo office will be closed October 4, 2002. The Van South office will be consolidated October 15, 2002 a meeting, stood up and yelled children were assigned offices check into their assigned The Whalley, Burnaby and North Vancouver consolidations are "blah, blah blah, blah blah." from which you could not get offices as soon as they arrived planned for the fourth quarter of 2002. The Nanaimo operators home every night. at their destination, before The closure of theAbbotsford office is slated for the fourth quarter carry that mantle with pride. That eventually got sorted checking into their hotels. of 2002. For a year and right up to the out. Next came the issue of At the end, 27 Nanaimo The closure of the Kelowna, Grande Prairie and Red Deer offices day of the closure, management expenses. Management issued operators were re-assigned on are scheduled for the first quarter of 2003. did everything in their power a bulletin that contradicted the full board and lodging to other However, some services in various offices are already being closed to force the operators to give collective agreement. Over a offices until at least Oct 4th. or moved. For example (see related story), the Nanaimo Operator up, quit and take the Voluntary two-week period the Nanaimo What happens after that date is Service office was closed effective September 6, 2002. Departure Initiative. These operator executive with the still unknown. members were tested. Their assistance of a plant Brother Management of operator self esteem was attacked. Their finally got the company back services firmly believed that faith in the collective on track. Next came the issue they could get the Nanaimo Clearnet hearings agreement was put to the test. of corporate credit cards. None operators to quit. They were Management said they would had been issued. Some wrong. They closed an office, resume in October not be, could not be, re- members were just receiving but they never destroyed the assigned or redeployed. Take them on the day of the closure. solidarity, the strength and Hearings in front of the Canada Industrial Relations Board on the ERIP/VDIP or be laid off. Management did not stop there, family known as the blah blah issues relating to Clearnet were begun in late August. Right up until the last two they also informed the sisterhood. When we left on However, due to a delay on the part of TELUS in getting weeks, senior executives were operators they could not take a them Sept 6th, at 6:30 in the material to the Union, the hearings were two days late getting pushing, pressuring the leave of absence. When the evening, they were sharing started, and went on for only two-and-a-half days. operators to leave. union challenged this stories, songs, food and drinks. Several days have been set aside for continuation of hearings in October, and again in November and December. The question of the status of Clearnet employees vis-à-vis the bargaining unit have been in dispute since the acquisition of Union negotiates improvements Clearnet two years ago. The Union's position is that Clearnet is a part of TELUS and that the employees properly belong in the bargaining unit. The to Northern Location Policy company position is that the employees would have to be organized and certified in order to become TWU members. Members in two northern anything through the policy policy was discriminatory, Alberta communities will changes. There are increases, resulting in the changes. benefit from recent changes to but no decreases, in amounts The new policy also includes the TELUS Northern Location members will receive. increases to the Northern Van Tel/Safeway CU Policy negotiated by the TWU. Under the former Northern allowance, to the Housing The changes, which apply to Location Policy, which Alberta Protection and Relocation Foundation grants available workers in High Level and Fort Telus had implemented to provisions, and to special McMurray, result from encourage workers to remain in medical needs in High Level. As part of Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union's commitment to its settlement of a policy grievance the North, craft workers in High At the same time, the Union members and the TWU community, the credit union established under Employment Equity Level and Fort McMurray were and Company signed off a a foundation in 1998. The goal of the Van Tel/Safeway Credit provisions, after the Union entitled to an isolation Letter of Agreement which Union Foundation is to stimulate interest in volunteering and to alleged that clerical workers allowance but clerical workers provides remedy in the form of promote community involvement. The focus is on non-profit youth and environment programs, as well as those that strive toward were being discriminated were not. Clerical workers in lump sum payments to six community enhancement and crime prevention. A number of against because the TELUS both communities are now clerical members (current and grants ranging from $250 to $2,500 are awarded annually. policy applied to craft workers covered by the policy. past) in Fort McMurray for time Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union Foundation posters will be but not clerical workers. The company had justified worked without additional distributed to TELUS locations across the province and brochures However, Business Agent granting the allowance to craft compensation prior to the new will be available in VTSCU branches. The Foundation will have June Lewis and Local Delegate but not clerical employees on policy. a posting on the TELUS Intranet and on their own website at Rob Pagacz, who negotiated the the grounds that it was difficult June Lewis said a good deal www.vantelsafeway.com. changes and a Letter of to retain craft employees in of time and effort went into To qualify for a grant this year, applications must be received Agreement on behalf of the northern Alberta, but that no negotiating the changes, but the by the Foundation no later than October 15, 2002. Also, please Union, emphasize that the such difficulty existed with net result is a gain for all note that organizations must have a Revenue Canada Charity changes benefit both men and respect to clerical employees. members, men and women, Tax Number to be eligible. Call Barbara Ciunyk at 604-656-6232 women in the two communities, However, the Union working in the two (1-800-663-1557) or email [email protected] for more and that no member will lose successfully argued that the old communities. information. TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 5 Seniority list by Province and Division Associate YEAR Years AB Clerical AB Plant AB Traffic AB Total BC Clerical BC Plant BC Traffic BC Total Total 1958 44 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1959 43 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 membership 1960 42 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1963 39 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 5 1964 38 0 2 1 3 2 11 0 13 16 explained 1965 37 4 8 1 13 14 27 0 41 54 1966 36 1 30 1 32 20 64 3 87 119 Five years ago, when a number of 1967 35 3 9 0 12 21 48 5 74 86 members were leaving the BC TEL 1968 34 2 18 3 23 47 40 5 92 115 workforce prior to age 55 after 1969 33 7 34 2 43 64 209 9 282 325 accepting a Voluntary Separation 1970 32 12 32 2 46 70 163 7 240 286 package (VSP), the TWU instituted an 1971 31 12 29 2 43 79 122 9 210 254 1972 30 12 25 3 40 94 214 12 320 360 "Associate Membership" designation to 1973 29 21 65 1 87 149 389 16 554 641 cover those members between the time 1974 28 38 198 4- 240 209 393 24 626 867 they took the VSP and the time they 1975 27 37 198 4 239 113 126 19 258 497 began collecting their pension (at which 1976 26 58 153 12 223 117 282 13 412 635 time they become retired members). 12 183 145 109 23 277 460 1977 25 39 132 Associate membership means that 1978 24 62 172 16 250 112 80 22 214 465 1979 23 71 187 24 282 151 190 37 378 660 the member retains eligibility to apply 1980 22 134 186 28 348 221 268 57 546 894 for the Union's retirement gift 1981 21 192 194 53 439 312 596 78 986 1,426 (maximum $1,000) on starting the 1982 20 50 40 20 110 50 65 8 123 233 pension, and also continues to receive 1983 19 17 2 14 33 60 19 17 96 129 the Transmitter. 48 1984 18 33 1 14 35 12 20 67 115 With a new Voluntary Departure 1985 17 53 5 27 85 47 17 12 76 161 1986 16 76 7 20 103 77 19 29 125 228 Initiative in the offing, Secretary- 1987 15 77 5 16 98 113 31 26 170 269 Treasurer has sent a letter to members 1988 14 75 33 36 144 180 65 39 284 428 outlining the process to become an 1989 13 50 49 29 128 205 83 40 328 456 Associate Member of the TWU. 1990 12 38 30 5 73 290 145 40 475 548 Christensen explains: 1991 11 31 14 0 45 51 44 8 103 148 "You are required to pay $1 per 1992 10 23 5 2 30 82 12 7 101 131 month ($12 per year) to the TWU. 1993 9 31 10 1 42 28 9 3 40 82 1994 8 106 10 7 123 304 36 19 359 483 Payments start the month following 1995 7 148 13 7 168 225 15 26 266 434 your last day of employment and 1996 6 115 10 3 128 146 12 2 160 288 cease when you start receiving your 1997 5 231 26 2 259 240 58 8 306 565 pension. Payment can be made by 1998 4 327 44 23 394 100 22 1 123 517 cheque for one year at a time, or for 1999 3 187 77 12 276 119 31 1 151 427 the entire amount. Yearly reminders 2000 2 472 178 24 674 194 62 8 264 938 2001 1 232 62 26 320 166 42 5 213 533 will not be sent. If, at the time you 2002 0 32 1 0 33 45 6 4 55 88 go on pension, our payment is in Total 3,109 2,296 457 5,862 4,697 4,142 662 9,501 15,369 arrears, the outstanding amount will be deducted from the retirement cheque." Great Financial Plans

investments (i.e. long term deposits, mutual your pension or a new job is in place and better done before leaving TELUS. If you funds, stocks or bonds) if they may be you don't need the benefits, but apply are simply renewing an existing mortgage, needed to pay the rent or buy groceries in immediately upon departure in case. you don't need to qualify again, just return the near-term. Once you have adequate This information is available through the the renewal form. income from other sources to pay your living EI website or by phoning or visiting your If you have outstanding credit cards or expenses, such as from your pensions or local Human Resources Development other high-cost debts, you may wish to use another job, you can then decide how to best Canada (HRDC) offices. a consolidation loan to simplify and use the extra funds from your package to potentially reduce interest costs and higher provide for your future. Giving money to 3. Question: If I take the package and payments. You might use the package to pay your spouse for his/her personal RRSP leave TEL US, can I still be a member of down or pay off higher cost debts. contribution, paying down high-cost debt, Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union? Many employees taking the packages buying RESPs and investing are excellent will be deferring part of the payout until next uses for these funds, but cover your living ANSWER: "Once a member, always a January to reduce the applicable tax rate. expenses first. The same remains true of member!" You remain a valued member of You may wish to get an advance on this those dollars sheltered in your RRSPs if they the credit union whether you remain with payout by borrowing against it. may be needed. or leave TELUS, and non-member TELUS To explore our credit options, give a employees are always welcome to take VTSCU member representative a call. 2. Question: If I take the package, can advantage of our free financial planning I get Employment Insurance. services. Better still, become a member and I have now seen hundreds of TWU enjoy all the benefits. members considering their various ANSWER: The "Employment packages. Each of you has different By BILL BILES, CFP Insurance" literature and website instruct 4. Question: What happens to my loans concerns and options for the future. For Financial Planner, you to apply for EI benefits as soon as you and mortgages at VTSCU if I take the many of you the package represents a great Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union have your record of Employment. (i.e., your package? bonus. For others, remaining with TELUS date of departure), but any "severance pay" is the better option. For me, the package 1. Question: What do I do with the received will delay the date you start to ANSWER: Your loans and mortgages has been a tremendous opportunity to meet money I receive from my "Early receive EI benefits. remain unaffected, but you may wish to your membership and I have really enjoyed Retirement" or "Voluntary Departure" Regular EI benefits can be paid for 14 to consider some options. Since automatic meeting everyone who has visited me at package? — From hundreds of retiring and 45 weeks, the amount and duration based payments are no longer possible from your VTSCU or attended one of my seminars. departing TELUS employees. on your start date, the employment rate in TELUS payroll cheque, you may wish to Good luck with your decisions and please your region, and the number of insurable make the payments from your chequing or don't hesitate to contact me for further help. ANSWER: After you have transferred hours you have. The date your benefits start savings account, perhaps on some different and contributed your eligible amounts to may be delayed up to 104 weeks (2 years), frequency (monthly or weekly instead of bi- You can call Bill Biles at 604-656-6289, RRSPs, and deferred the appropriate but the payments and period remain the weekly). You may wish to re-negotiate your email at bbilesa vantelsafeway.com, or amount of what you cannot shelter to same. So if you receive 18 months salary mortgage amortization to reduce payments, contact a Van Tel/Safeway Member Service January of the following year, your first as a "severance payout", your start date will or take the opportunity to "lock in" today's Representative at 604-656-6200 or toll free priority is to keep whatever funds you might be delayed at least 18 months, but the low rates with a longer term. If you'd like at 1-800-663-1557. Please visit Van Tel/ need for living expenses easily available. monthly benefits and the payout period you to increase or establish a mortgage or line Safeway 's website at Don't lock any funds into long-term are eligible for remain the same. Hopefully, of credit, negotiating and qualifying are www.vantelsafeway.com. TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 6 Bomb Threat Policy - Employee Safety Abandoned at the "Workplace of Choice" Bell, Union agree on By Tim Williams pay equity settlement Health and Safety Officer It is Telus' position that during a bomb threat situation, Telus employees will not be informed that their safety is threatened until a bomb detonates, or evacuation is ordered, or until the police sound the all-clear. From September 5 Globe and Mail number about 5,000 according to their This is in spite of enforcement action by HRDC, which resulted in company promises to notify employees "as Bell Canada announced yesterday union. Most of those jobs have been soon as possible" after contacting the police and initiating a search of escape routes. that it is willing to pay $180-million transferred to an outside company, Telus Director of Corporate Security, Joanne Kohel, contends that the obligation to cooperate with police in cash and pension benefits to settle Nordia, where salaries are lower. in Criminal Code matters supersedes the obligation to employees. a decade-old pay-equity dispute with Joel Carr of the Communications, When Telus first posted the new Bomb Threat Policy in 2001, it did not provide for timely notification to 29,000 mostly female clerical Energy and Paperworkers Union of employees who might be endangered in a situation where the bomb threat turned out to be genuine. workers. Canada, said he hopes that yesterday's As a result, the TWU members of the Policy Health & Safety Committee complained to HRDC. A Federal If ratified, the settlement will end deal with the employees' association Safety Officer investigated. Among other serious deficiencies, she found that the Telus Bomb Threat Policy a drawn-out court battle between Bell means that Bell is willing to come up failed to meet the requirements of the legislation, which requires the employer to inform employees when their and the CanadianTelecommuni- with the money to settle with the health or safety is endangered. cations Employees' Association. But operators as well. In response, the Company changed the wording of the bomb threat policy to state that employees are to be the company has yet to strike a deal Current and former Bell Canada notified "as soon as possible" after informing the police and initiating a search. In reality, Telus interprets the with about 5,000 current and former employees will vote on the settlement words "as soon as possible" to mean "as soon as the police give permission". operators, who are looking for a deal between Sept. 19 and Sept. 23. In practice, the company has no intention of letting employee safety concerns during a bomb threat interfere settlement of up to $400-million. About 12,000 of the affected employ- with operations, disrupt the work, or cause any problems for the owners of the building. The settlement was seen as an ees are still working at the company. The right to refuse dangerous work, enshrined in the Canada Labour Code and Regulations, is useless to important issue for BCE chief Depending on the number of years employees if dangers are hidden from them. There are strict requirements that the employer inform employees executive. Michael Sabia, son of Laura at the company, those involved stand of every known or foreseeable hazard in the workplace. Sabia, co-founder of the National to receive up to $20,000. Under the right to refuse, an employee in a bomb threat situation has a right to wait out the bomb threat at Action Committee on the Status of Brenda Knight, president of the another location, outside the building. To exercise this right, the employee need only inform the employee's Women. The pay-equity dispute also employees association, called the deal supervisor that (s)he is exercising the right to refuse dangerous work in light of the bomb threat situation, and was a prominent topic at the last BCE "a major landmark in our decade-long inform the supervisor as to where the employee will await the outcome. annual general meeting. drive toward achieving pay equity for Tim Williams, TWU Safety Officer, cautions that the employee can be disciplined for abuse of the right to "We are pleased that discussions our members." refuse. The location chosen to await the outcome of the bomb threat MUST be appropriate and reasonable in with the [union] have resulted in a fair She said the $178-million the circumstances. All employees in major work locations should consider the factors involved in fending for settlement of this long-standing settlement brings total pay-equity- themselves in light of the emerging situation in which the employer is abandoning responsibility to them in the dispute that enables us to move related adjustments negotiated case of a bomb or terrorist threat. forward as a stronger company," Mr. between the union and Bell to more The TWU Health & Safety Committee members, who are all members of the Telus Policy Committee, are Sabia said in a news release. than $480-million since 1993. still attempting to find a way to persuade the company to reconsider this irresponsible approach. In case they Earlier this summer, Mr. Sabia, "I'm confident that our are not successful, they are preparing a campaign to have TWU members on local Workplace Committees who has held the position for less than membership will ratify it because it develop lists of appropriate alternate locations, and a list of tell-tale signs that the employer is secretly reacting six months, agreed to sit down with serve their real interest," Ms. Knight to a bomb threat, which could reasonably trigger a 'right to refuse' personal evacuation. the union to discuss pay equity after said. "It provides them with Employees who know of bomb threats should immediately inform both Tim Williams at the TWU office and it invoked his mother's memory in substantial amounts of money in a the union co-chair of the local Workplace Health ,& Safety Committee. TWU-appointed Co-Chairpersons of challenging the company's stand on very short time-frame, and it may end Workplace Committees should immediately inform the TWU-appointed Co-Chair of the Policy Committee. the issue. a long and costly litigation, the HRDC is responding to this problem, and it may take time, and so we need to be prepared to apply pressure But Bell has yet to settle with its outcome of which has been highly and to look after ourselves in the meantime, Williams concluded. former and current operators, who uncertain." June NACU meet in Burnaby gets bargaining updates The TWU hosted a meeting of the proposals on the table. The company At Sasktel, the Collective Agreement At MTS, Carlson reports stress is services designation under the federal officers of the National Alliance of tactic now seems to be to grow the does not expire until March 2004. The also a problem. Clerical remain only code should not apply to the union. Communications Unions (NACU) in non-union sector in central Canada, parties had negotiated a retention bonus in Winnipeg and Brandon, plus a few Cronk concluded that the Council of Burnaby June 8-9. Representing our and even though they will end up in and wage update to market adjustments in Thompson. Employees are Unions in Atlantic Canada is working Union were the four table officers, the Union, TELUS is gambling the for IT workers. Recent negotiations monitored on a 24-hour basis, and very well. Rod Hiebert, Neil Morrison, Bruce new employees will be more resulted in a 3% market adjustment for scheduling is a major problem in Dave Halikowski of CAW said Bell and Jim Christensen. Other amenable to concessions, something one group and 5% for another. The clerical. Technology is way behind the CA doesn't expire until end of participants, from CEP were Brian the Union is determined to counter. company wants it averaged over a one- at MTS, so this could cause financial 2003; and several scope and Payne, President, Ervan Cronk of And three other unfair complaints year period, the Union proposes problems as upgrades will be contracting out issues are pending. Atlantic Canada, and Ron Carlson of have also been filed with the CIRB. averaging on a project-by-project basis. necessary soon. When AT&T Canada brought Manitoba and Saskatchewan; Dave Bell said the Union asked some The company is doing some Ervan Cronk of CEP in Atlantic Metronet they agreed to bring like Halikowski and Brian Avery of CAW tough questions at the annual centralizing. Some job functions area region reported that when Aliant was positions in the bargaining unit. At Local 2000; Marion Leskiw of CSU shareholders meeting, seeking to alert being moved between' craft and formed, CEP and AC&TWU formed Netcom which is the internet arm of Local 52; and from AC&TWU, Gary the public to the damage the TELUS clerical, and issues relating to this are a bargaining council instead of having AT&T Canada the Union is filing an Grant and Dean McDonald. Thanks moves are having not just for their going to arbitration. Contracting Out a run-off vote. They are currently in application before the CIRB over to Vice-President Neil Morrison for employees, but for their shareholders is also a growing issue with the negotiations, and have signed off scope. his notes from the NACU meeting, for as well. company, and is being arbitrated. A some items, but nothing on money (as AT&T U.S. has to buy all use in this article. Neil Morrison explained the ERIP public campaign is underway to of June). The company is trying to outstanding shares of AT&T Canada and Voluntary Departure proposals pressure Sasktel not to privatize. treat the Collective Agreement as at $60 each. That is why share prices The meeting opened with put forward by TELUS, and the TWU Privatization is not on the agenda brand new, rather than revising have been going up (as of June). He bargaining updates. Bruce Bell led reaction. That matter is reported on currently, but is never far from the previous agreements. The Union was said there are rumours that ATA&T off with a report on TWU bargaining. extensively elsewhere in the surface. SaskPower, SaskEnergy and successful in seeking a ruling that the Canada and TELUS may be talking. He said bargaining with TELUS has Transmitter. Sasktel are all government-owned and company couldn't consolidate the He said AT&T U.S. will probably been underway for a year and a half Brian Payne of CEP reported on provide $1.5 billion per year to nine agreements without dealing with have to do a deal with one of the Baby and has been "a grind", and has the pay equity complaint with Bell. citizens of Saskatchewan. The the Unions, and the issue has been Bells in U.S. broadened beyond the bargaining He said a tentative settlement three campaign includes polling, and public resolved at arbitration. CIRB Updates: Bruce Bell of table. Bell explained that Quality of years ago fell through, and meetings in 25 communities. It could They are contracting out a lot of TWU: Bell reported on Decision Service actions were filed with the discussions with Bell are ongoing. He be an issue in the next provincial work. Aliant has turned over all 108, going to Federal Court of CRTC in June (just before NACU said Bell's strategy has been to drag election campaign. property management to Bell. People Appeal. Four weeks of hearings meeting), as members in Operator the issue out into the future so nobody Stress is growing in the workplace. are still working for Aliant but scheduled, to end in December 2002, Service were being instructed to dump will be left to pay. CEP continues to Membership has gone to 3,600 from reporting to Bell managers. Some 42 but it could be some weeks or months calls into IVR. He noted company apply pressure in various ways, for 4,600 a year ago. Monitoring is people are affected. Bargaining is into 2003 before a decision is handed had also just announced two buyout instance at shareholders' meeting, and becoming intrusive, and company is scheduled through to mid-December down. The Union is optimistic offers (the ERIP and Voluntary there is cautious optimism the tracking trucks through GPS 203, and more union involvement in Decision 108 will not be disturbed by Departure), which Neil Morrison company may be prepared to settle. technology. They are redesigning pensions will be an issue. the court. would be reporting on. Payne said CEP is facing buyback how they offer and sell goods and Aliant is offering selective ERIP, Discussion on organizing Bell reported TELUS is saying of shares from SBC and Teleglobe, services to subscribers. Going more which the Union is challenging. followed. Participants noted the they see no end in sight for which will indirectly affect union. to inside sales. Hearings have been held and a CIRB difficulty of organizing call centers, bargaining, and the Union is prepared CEP still has some members left in Three changes to the pension plan answer is pending. At the same as many young employees there stay for a long continuing struggle, as long Teleglobe, and U.S. part of Teleglobe took effect in April. They have hearing, the Union challenged a only a short time. Unions must make as it takes to get an acceptable has filed for bankruptcy. He said the negotiated indexing for pensions and company poll of members on a better effort to appeal to young agreement. At the time (early June), Bell Canada Collective Agreement northern allowance for northern bargaining table issues. Cronk said workers, and must have a broader the parties were in the third pass over expires in 2004. workers. it is possible they will be into approach to organizing. One proposals, many of which Bell Ron Carlson of CEP reported On other issues, bundling of conciliation this fall. suggestion was for the Unions to described as "ludicrous" items Northwestel workers CATV service is being trialed again; The company has taken the jointly fund a focus group to brought to the table by TELUS. (approximately 400) represented by issues with PDPs and PDO's are position that approximately 550 of the determine what young workers want. However, he said the company seems IBEW went on strike May 27, with similar to TWU; the number of 4,000 employees are essential under A sub-committee will be formed to to be shifting away from a tactic of money the main issue. The company operators has been reduced to under the Canada Labour Code. Hearings investigate organizing and propose getting the Union out on the street. A proposes that wages should be tied 80, in seven centers, but CEP has a will be held at CIRB, and other ideas. "bargaining in bad faith" complaint more to bonuses, which the Union Letter of Agreement that operators Unions are encouraged to intervene. The next NACU meeting will be to the CIRB forced TELUS to put opposes. can't be centralized. The Union's position is that essential held in Halifax November 22-24. TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 7 President's Report

11Rod A Hiebert 111 Massive and destructive restructuring The Union Office is gaining massive numbers of retention by increasing elaborate but meaningless communities around both outraged that TELUS customers from the service. Personal Development Plans, provinces which face loss of management is stepping up a competition will just build in Furthermore, TELUS Spark Plug Energizer service, and we have again campaign of intimidation and more insecurity and should start acting as a programs, goofy cartoon team found high levels of harassment of Union members confusion. member of the community meetings, and so on. Those community understanding as it tries to force you out of What should TELUS be instead of as a marauder on expensive programs are and support for the Union's the Company. doing? the rampage. The Company demeaning and position. Over the past two years, To begin with, as I said, has a responsibility to provide counterproductive. They The membership is solidly the new management has TELUS must realize it cannot employment to communities induce stress and destroy behind us. Although many are initiated changes that have shrink its way to greatness. In in return for the substantial morale. Our members, who in personal turmoil as they are lost members and sharp contrast to downsizing amount of capital it collects in are customer service whipsawed by managers, they shareholders tens of and closing of offices, Bell phone bills. Commitment to professionals, just want to understand that it is the thousands of dollars as Canada is opening new Phone the wider community should provide good service to their company and not the Union TELUS shares have fallen by Centres in the same shopping be thought of as strength, not customers. They are not that is the cause of the 70 per cent in just one year. It malls that TELUS is weakness. Why should interested in playing these disruption. is ludicrous that they are now abandoning. Bell apparently communities support TELUS degrading childish games. With respect to the buyouts attempting to blame you and understands that it requires a when the company exhibits no These programs should be put being offered by TELUS, that trying to force you out of your physical presence in order to concern for communities' on the scrap heap along with has become something of a job. We have been advised compete. Instead of well-being? the Sailing of Cardboard mess since first announced by that TELUS managers have abandoning its core telephone As an alternative to getting Ships from Port to Port the company. But my advice been telling members that business, which involves rid of trained, loyal unionized Around the World, and so to members wondering what they have only 45 minutes to dealing directly with the employees in western Canada many other inspirational to do in the face of company make one of the most customers in Phonemarts, the in order to hire new employees failures that TELUS has tried pressure is simple. Do what important decisions of their Company should be for its operations east of in its relations with its suits you best, not what suits lives — whether they will take expanding its offerings by Alberta, TELUS should be employees. the company. If you are ready the package and leave TELUS offering a full range of using state-of-the-art Moreover, it seems to me to retire and start the pension, or continue working. These products and services, technology to move work to that the drastic cuts in of if you truly want to change actions are nasty, immoral, including cellular phones, the trained, loyal employees personnel underway are careers, or leave the and nothing but intimidation high speed internet services, who are already on staff. Is it short-sighted in the extreme. workforce, then a buyout may and harassment, in our view. sales and billing functions. unreasonable to make that While I am not convinced of a be for you. If you are not This massive and destructive To prevent Bell from eating suggestion? Not when you need for any reduction in the ready to retire, or change restructuring of the Company their lunch,TELUS should be consider the fact that TELUS workforce, it is clear the careers, you should not let is completely unnecessary and offering the full bundle of is currently using technology company could achieve a yourself be pressured into will be recorded as another services in every community to move work away from its gradual reduction in a leaving. major blunder of the new that it is currently serving. In existing employees in BC and measured way, by attrition or Managers would like you to Entwistle style of the alternative, if TELUS Alberta by hiring new by offering an early think you can be pushed out management. abandons them, customers employees in Toronto and retirement incentive to the door if you choose not to Members can be assured will move all their business to Scarborough, even though its workers who have reached take the buyout. that the Union will do Bell. Such an approach is not core business is in the West. the age of 55. That has been That is not the case. everything possible to protect radical. It is just good TELUS must realize that done in the past, without Unless the company you, your job, and your business sense. In fact they will not retain customers serious disruption to the triggers the layoff clause, and future. Verizon, TELUS's parent or gain new ones by having the workforce or the quality of then they would have to lay off The Company plan to cut corporation, is opening up glitziest advertisements or the work, and without creating by juniority, they cannot force 5,000 of their 17,000 unionized new stores in order to sell most TV or newspaper ads. A a major burden for the you to leave. They may workforce in Alberta and BC internet services, phones, major portion of the pension plan. declare you surplus, and they is shortsighted, and they will cellular phones and service. company's bloated Such an approach could may be able to force you to learn the same hard lessons In short, instead of pushing advertising budget should be achieve an optimum sized move, but in the end you have that many other companies customers to the competition allocated to providing better workforce, without shaking a right to remain in the have learned. You can't by closing service centres and service and paying down the the company to the workforce. shrink to greatness. You abandoning communities, debt. foundation, and without You should decide what to cannot build a strong instead of forcing customers to TELUS should abandon needlessly pushing employees do based on your needs and company by turning your deal with answering machines the industrial relations out the door. desires. back on loyal customers and and computerized voices programs which it seems to The Union is determined to The Union will stand with attacking the employees and rather than human beings, value so highly — programs fight back against this slash- you in asserting your rights. their Union. Reliance on TELUS should be building which degrade workers by and-burn company tactic. We In return, it is imperative that EBITDA and projections of customer loyalty and forcing them to participate in are taking our concerns to you stand with the Union.

Company tries to pressure members to quit

-from page one to do so will be lost. Both be identified and canvasses to the Union, and has include an Early Retirement those threats are untrue. done of surplus employees, recently re-affirmed it. Incentive covering employees Some managers continue We advise members first in a headquarters area We have no indication at aged 55 or over by the end of to pressure members facing facing office closures not to and then province-wide in this time the Company plans 2003, and a Voluntary office closures into taking a feel pressured to leave, and each province. Moreover, at to go the layoff route, but Departure Initiative for those buyout and leaving the not to take the bait. The that point, if you don't like even if they did invoke the under age 55. Specifics, workforce. They are telling facts are these. If your a position or location that layoff clause, layoffs would particularly with respect to the members they face the office is being closed, the your seniority will get you not be on the basis of surplus VDI, have changed somewhat prospect of layoff. Further, company will have to find through a canvass, you will but would be on the basis of since the plans were they are saying that if the you a temporary re- still have the option to take juniority on a province-wide announced. A separate story member does not take the assignment until surplus a buyout. Labour Relations basis. outlines details of the buyout buyout now, the opportunity and vacancy numbers can has made that commitment (The buyouts being offered initiatives.) TRANSMITTER - September, 2002 - Page 8