he Official Publication of June 2000 he Telecommunications Vol. XXII Vorkers Union TheTransmitter No. 4

BROADWAY ellNiEe2 PRINTERS TWU wins Union merger vote with 70% The TWU will become the employer status which ulti- concerns of members were simi- irgaining agent for all union- mately brought the workers to- lar in both provinces. Shortly ed workers at Telus. gether in one union was initiated before the Alberta tour was un- By a vote of 9,629 to 4,047, by Telus in early 1999, shortly dertaken, the TWU opened of- nion members in B.C. and after the merger of the B.C. tele- fices in Edmonton and Calgary lberta have chosen the TWU phone company (BC TEL) and so that the Unionized workers ver the IBEW to represent the Alberta company Telus, un- in that province could have iem. There were just six der the name Telus. ready access to the TWU and to aoiled ballots. Prior to the merger, all BC obtain information about our In percentage terms, the TEL unionized workers, about Union and our plans following WU captured 70.4% of the 10,000, were members of the a merger vote. ate, the IBEW 29.6%. TWU, while a majority of the Now that the members have The mail-in ballot was con- 7,000 Alberta Telus workers made their choice, the hard work acted and supervised by the were members of IBEW Local begins. As President Hiebert anada Industrial Relations 348. A relatively small number has stated, the Union is well ,oard (CIRB). Voting took of the Alberta workers were aware of the magnitude of the lace between April 12 and May members of CSU52 and CEP. job that lies ahead. 4, and the vote count was con- (The CSU was involved as a "There are many issues and acted and results released by result of an earlier corporate differences between the Collec- CIRB on May 26. merger which had brought the tive Agreements in B.C.and The CIRB set aside the 961 Edmonton telephone company Alberta that need to be resolved allots cast by Telesales and into Telus, and CEP was in- — issues involving contracting ield Sales employees pending volved as bargaining agent for out, jurisdiction, benefit plans decision on a Telus applica- the Telus mobility workers). and pensions and others," on to have those employees The CSU and CEP leadership Any bets on which way he voted? Hiebert stated. "At the same Kcluded from the bargaining backed the TWU their efforts to TWU President Rod Hiebert mails in his ballot in CIRB vote to deter- time, we must work to bring the nit. create one bargaining unit for mine bargaining agent for Telus unionized workers Telus "Eastern Build" under our The application for common Alberta and B.C., and through- Collective Agreement. But I out the representation campaign. provinces, questions from mem- sues such as pensions, seniority have no doubt that together we MAILPOSTE TWU President Rod Hiebert, bers (and potential members) rights, and bargaining strategy. have the energy required to re- centred on meat-and-potato is- Canada Post Corporation • Societe canadienne des pastas on behalf of the entire Execu- The TWU officers noted that the solve the issues we face and Postage paid Port me Blk Nbre tive Council, has expressed the move forward." Union's gratitude to the mem- The Union plans to move 6736 NACU moves ahead VANCOUVER, B.C. bers in both provinces for their quickly to begin the task of in- vote of confidence, and he Twenty TWU representatives attended a conference sponsored by tegrating the new members from the National Alliance of Communications Unions (NACU) in Ottawa pledged the TWU will work tire- Alberta into the TWU structure. April 28-29. The TWU contingent comprised the four table officers, lessly to prove itself worthy of members of the bargaining committee, and eight delegates elected at Almost immediately, the the trust which has been shown. convention. TWU will be setting up meet- Over the past year, and par- The purpose and primary focus of the conference was to explore ings in Alberta to work out a ticularly since the fall of 1999, closer ties and increased co-operation and co-ordination of activity transition plan, to deal with the TWU campaigned to bring between the various communications unions in Canada, in the wake of questions such as interim repre- our message to the member- the rapid globalization of the industry. The second and related focus sentation and local structures was on the unprecedented changes that are taking place in the industry. ships, beginning in B.C. In the Speakers included the heads of the major Communications Unions "Members in Alberta will fall, the Union held a leadership in Canada. TWU President Rod Hiebert's speech is printed on p. 6. now be able to elect all local tour, a series of membership In addition, the conference heard from representatives from a num- executive officers and shop meetings throughout B.C. to ber of international labour organizations, including Morton Bahr, Presi- stewards as they set up locals to which TWU members were in- dent of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), from the conform to their needs," Hiebert vited. The tour had the joint pur- U.S.; Philip Bowyer, Deputy General Secretary of the Union Network said. "At the same time, we will International (UNI), the new international organization which has su- pose of celebrating the Union's perceded the PTTI and CI; and Francisco Hernandez Juarez, Secre- be working with members and 50th anniversary and of giving tary General of the Telephone Workers Union in Mexico. officers in Alberta to deal with the membership the opportunity Analysis of the latest developments in the communications indus- issues such as orientation ses- to discuss issues of concern try in Canada was provided by industry analysts Iain Angus, Presi- sions and courses members may prior to the representation vote. dent of the Iain Angus Telemanagement Group, whose topic was "How be interested in." Table Officers and Local convergence, competition and emerging technologies are reshaping our Over the next while, the industry"; and by Vincent Mosco, Professor of Communications, So- Business Agents attended the ciology and Political Economy at Carleton University, who spoke on Union will be issuing bulletins membership meetings. In addi- "Labour Convergence and what it means for union-management re- and other communications with tion to speeches and question lations, including jurisdictional and bargaining issues." the new members in Alberta on and answer sessions, the meet- There was general agreement among delegates that closer co-op- what is being proposed and on ings featured a 15-minute TWU eration between the Unions is imperative to deal with the rapidly evolv- any decisions taken or agree- video on the Union's history and ing industry, and a good deal of discussion centred on what form that ments achieved. co-operation should take and how it should be achieved. Collective Agreement, and en- Any member with a concern Some delegates proposed that the Unions expand the idea even fur- tertainment by folk-singer ther and explore a formal merger of Communications Unions in or issue that they need addressed Valdy. Canada, either as an immediate or a longer-term objective. can telephone the TWU office Early in the New Year, the NACU leaders are meeting again in Regina in mid-June, where the in Burnaby at 604-437-8601 or TWU took its leadership tour to issues discussed at the April conference will be explored further. in Edmonton at 780-448-8911 various Alberta centres. In both A complete report on the NACU conference appears on Page 5. or in Calgary at 403-237-6990.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear TWU: Variety club thanks Retirement I would like to thank you for my Congratulations honourary life membeship, retired Dear TWU: member pin, and $1,000 which I re- Canadian This year the Variety Club Show thanks on winning ceived upon my retirement May 1, of Hearts on BCTV raised a record Dear TWO: 2000. total of $5,413,682 for BC's special Just a short note to thank all my I greatly enjoyed my 25 years as a workers merger vote kids — a remarkable total that is truly friends and many associates for their TWU member. Many achievements Dear TWU: a testament to the inherent goodness congratulations and kind words on my were gained over these years, thanks Congratulations, you did a hell of of humankind, and in particular, the retirement. It has been a very inter- to member solidarity and TWU sup- a job! You not only won, you won big, people of British Columbia. falling esting 35 years and I would not have port. ensuring support in the upcoming ne- In my tenure as a member of the missed any of it for the world. Sincerely, gotiations. Variety Club of British Columbia, I My path was set many years ago Dorothy MacDougall, Please extend my congratulations have been constantly amazed at the when Don McRobb, an early mentor Campbell River behind to all the business agents, table offic- magnitude of generosity and commit- in Terrace, told me the following: ers, staff and local leaders for a job ment exhibited by the thousands of in- "Croft, there are three types of people Dear TWU: CCPA/CALM well done. dividuals and groups at the annual Va- in this world. The first are the ones Thank you for the $1000 cheque Canadians are working May 26 was my birthday and I riety Club Show of Hearts. This gen- who make things happen. The sec- and the Certificate of Honourary Life longer hours at more precariou couldn't think of a better gift than the erosity and commitment comes in ond are the ones who follow with in- Membership that I received on my re- news I received from Rod Hiebert that many forms: donations of time, skills, terest as things happen around them, tirement from TELUS. jobs for less pay than a decade evening. product, services, and money. And and then there is the third type, the Geoff Dawson ago. That is the central finding In solidarity, this generosity and commitment comes ones who are forever trying to figure Kelowna of a report on the living stan Richard Long, from individuals, families, friends, out what the Hell just happened!" dards of working people re Administrative Vice President, groups, organizations, media, and Dear TWU: I have spent much of my time over leased in April by the Canadian CEP Ontario region companies. the years ensuring that I remained part I would like to express my appre- At Variety Club, we believe that of the first group and doing my best to ciation for the $1000 cheque presented Centre for Policy Alternatives. Sports thanks the entire Variety Club organization move people I became involved with to me at my retirement party on April Falling Behind: The State is the sum of its parts. Our "parts" up at least one group. I feel I have 14, 2000. It was a nice parting gift Working Canada, 2000 is the Dear TWU: are the strong partnerships we have been fairly successful thanks to the that I certainly will put to good use. first comprehensive account of On behalf of the Abbotsford Soc- forged with like-minded friends — we TWU for giving me access to training Thank you again . All the best in cer Association and the Abbotsford could not do the work we do without in the field of educating members and the years ahead. how the poor economic perfor- Uil Devils, I would like to thank you these partnerships. We could not suc- to the Canadian Labour Congress for Elsie Glavind mance and government cutbacks for your sponsorship. The girls did ceed without your help. We are very providing the opportunity to use this of the 1990s have adversely af- very well, placing sixth out of 17 proud of the fact that over 4,000 vol- training. Dear TWU: fected most Canadians. teams in the U-11 Division in the Cen- unteers, members, and fundraisers I would like to thank the TWU for Don and many others in those early "Working people and their tral Fraser Valley League. Thanks help make our Show of Hearts a suc- years taught me that Union and Po- the $1000 retirement gift and again. cess each year. For your part in this litical involvement can be rewarding Honourary Life membership upon my families didn't make much Yours sincerely, success, we say "Thank you." as well as fun and it is that part of my retirement. progress in the lean and mean David Ruzsa, Chuck McVeigh working life that I miss the most. But Yours sincerely, Canada of the 1990s," says Local 31 President/Telethon Chair Rochelle Granath as we all know, as some doors close Andrew Jackson, senior econo-, many more open and I know I will be Local 51 EDMONTON OFFICE CALGARY OFFICE kept busy in what I expect to be a very mist with the Canadian Labour 11305 - 95 St. #627 - 604-1 St. S.W. long retirement. Dear TWU: Congress and co-author of the Once again, thank you for the Life I would like to thank you for the report. "In fact, by some mea- Edmonton, T5G 1L2 Calgary, T2P 1M7 Membership and the $1000 cheque, much appreciated $1000 retirement sures, the living standards of gift and the honourary life TWU mem- Ph. 780-448-8911 Ph. 403-237-6990 which will go towards a new motor Canadians have pretty much home. The fond memories of my time bership. I would also wish you best with the TWU will be with me for- of luck in the upcoming vote to de- stood still since the mid-1970s." ever. cide the future of the TWU. Jackson says that the decline Croft Randle In solidarity, in living standards can be attrib- TWU phone ...(604) 437-8601 Local 35, Campbell River Eric Fawdry uted to the tight monetary poli- cies of the Bank of Canada and Dear TWU: Dear TWU: I am recuperating presently from a I retired March 31, 2000. Thank the adoption of a pro-business severe relapse with Multiple Sclero- you in advance for the retirement gift. economic agenda that is failing sis. So I would ask that you forgive It has been a pleasure to be a TWU to deliver the promised gains. TWU fax (6043 435-7760 member. I am thankful for your sup- my late letter of thanks to the mem- Co-author David Robinson, bers of a Union I owe a lot of thanks port and being able to serve as Local to. Secretary Treasurer for two terms. public policy director with the Thank you kindly for the cheque Harvey Pearson Canadian Association of Uni- I for $1000 received upon my "official" Kelowna versity Teachers, says that cuts Pension Plan retirement. It was a pleasure to be } to government services have also office (6043 430-1317 presented also with an honourary life played a role in eroding the liv- membership certificate at Kerry Klemmer's Retirement Dinner, by ing standards of working Cana- dians. I Kerry. I would like to wish a special "Happy Retirement" to Kerry BOYCOTTS "Most working people lose TWU hotline ..(604) 435-2224 Klemmer, as she went out of her way out when public services like many times on behalf of the TWU, All readers are asked to health care and education are cut with encouragement. support the following To the Executive Council and all back, because they have to pur- TWU members, I wish you the same trade union sponsored chase those lost services in the TWU Website addresses: strength and solidarity that we have consumer boycotts. marketplace, and often at a TWU Home Page: http://www.twu-canada.cs always believed in, as you forge ahead Please do not patronize or higher price, " says Robinson. TW Pension Plan: through all the changes. http://www.twu-canada.caftwpotpptocihtm Thank you sincerely, purchase any of these "The impact of the cuts of the TW Benefit Plan: Anne Franke goods, services and/or re- 1990s is now showing up in http stiwww.twu-caneda.ca/twppflaphome/htm TWU Local 51 - 43 TWU Email Address (Union Office]: tail outlets: household budgets." twuetwu-canada.ca Other highlights from the re- Dear TWU: All Non-Union Postal TW Pension end Benefit Plans: port: I would like to thank you for the Outlets. twpiensetwubc.com} • There has been no increase gift of Life Membership Certificate Dispute with CUPW and the cheque of $1000. I would to for more than 20 years in the real California Table Grapes. thank all TWU Executive Council and annual earnings of Canadian Shop Stewards that have given me United Farmworkers of men working full-time. excellent service for 27.5 years until America my retirement. • Average weekly earnings, TheTransmitter All Indonesian Products In solidarity, adjusted for inflation, grew just Member of James J. Poen CLC re: East Timor 2.8 per cent from 1989 to 1998. Vancouver The Transmitter is the offi- Canadian Philips Electronic And, despite strong economic Association cial publication of the of Labour Media Products, Quebec growth in 1999, there was no in- Telecommunications CALM Dear TWU: Association Workers Union. canadienne Sorry I haven't written sooner to CLC/USWA 7812 crease in real weekly earnings. de la presse ACPS syndicate thank you for the $1,000 cheque and National Post and • The average after-tax and life membership presented by Ildi after-transfer income of Cana- Editor: Myron Johnson Calgary Herald Gauer, but retirement has that effect dians fell by 5.6 per cent over President: Rod Hiebert of "I'll do it later". It was a great 25 CEP and GCIU strike Vice-Presidents: Neil Morrison & Bruce Bell the 1990s, with poorer families Sect.-Treasurer: Kathy Pearn years. against Herald 5261 Lane Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6 Melodie Castelein experiencing a decline of 12 per North Vancouver cent. TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 2 ECT exam available through ITAC offices

By RON WILLIAMS, B.A. The examination for Certificate of Qualification for an Elec- tronics Communication Technician is now available at Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission offices throughout B.C. As explained in previous articles (see July 1999 Transmitter), this is a non-mandatory trade set up through ITAC at the direc- tion of the Provincial Labour Ministry. There are ITAC offices in Burnaby, Vancouver, Courtenay, Nanaimo, Victoria, Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Cloverdale, Cranbrook, Nelson, Kelowna, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Prince George, Terrace and Dawson Creek. To write the exam, you apply at the ITAC office, explaining that you have worked in the trade for at least six years, with a written confirmation from your employer(s). There is a fee of $85 to write the exam, as well as an evaluation fee of $65. Exam Profile The exam is drawn from a bank of 250 multiple-choice ques- tions. Currently, the same 100 questions are being used on every exam, but in the future, ITAC will be able to elecronically draw 100 questions from this bank on a random basis. The examinee will be allowed up to three hours to sit the exam. A mark of 70 per cent or higher is considered a passing grade. The exam is drawn from a wide range of categories, with each category assigned a number of questions, based on weighting factors of importance to the trade. For example, there are ques- tions in both the radio-micraowave and fundamental telephony fields, but there are more questions in the fundamental telephony field because it is deemed to be more relevant and commonplace. The following categories are included in the exam. - Tools and Test Equipment; - Computer Systems; - Power Sources; - Voice and Data Cabling; - Fibre Optic Systems; - Multiplexers; Hundreds of employees and retired employees who had worked at the Telus shops at 6969-10th Avenue - Data Networks; Fn Burnaby return to the building for one last time March 31 for a celebration at the end of the work - Radio-Microwave Systems; lay. The company has sold the building and property and moved the work to other locations. - TV and Video Systems; - Basic Telephony; - Digital Network Systems; WU wins contracting out dispute, - Telephone Switching Systems; - Antennas and RF Transmission Systems; - Satellite Communications; but Telus challenges ruling in court - Job Co-ordination; - Trouble Shooting Techniques. Telus is going to court to could not proceed to contract out the three contracting out issues BCIT is in the process of developing an upgrade course for challenge a contracting out de- the work. and instead "combined the ques- people interested in writing the exam. The only pre-requisite cision which was favorable to In its affidavit to the court, tions into a single and different would be that you are eligible to write the exam. It would be a the TWU. Telus alleges that Mr. Kelleher one and answered the resultant 60-hour course (three hours per evening, two evenings per week, The company has applied to erred in law or exceeded his ju- question without due or reason- for 10 weeks). The course is being designed to instruct to the the Supreme Court of B.C. for risdiction in determining the able regard to the facts and law same level as the exam. BCIT is investigating methods of mak- an order setting aside the March three questions. as they differentially applied to ing the course available to out-of-town students. Telus would 20 ruling of COTC Chair Specifically, the company al- each of the three questions spe- pay for the course on completion, but it would be done on your Stephen Kelleher supporting the leges he erred or exceeded his cifically put to him." own time. TWU's position that the com- jurisdiction when he failed to ask The Union will be respond- pany should not be allowed to and answer the three separate ing to the Telus' application in contract out members' work in and distinct questions relating to court. three areas: body work on ve- hicles; van equipping; and sort- ing, counting and rolling of coins Arbitrator's temp ruling from pay phones. The company had argued at results in 41 job postings the COTC hearing that the sale 'VELUM!! lar and continuous usage of tem- of the building and property An arbitration pursued by the poraries". where the work was performed Union's Corporate Temp Com- The company's position was (6969 - 10th Ave. in Burnaby) mittee will result in Telus post- that under the Letter of Agree- constituted "unusual circum- ing 41 Service Representative ment in the Collective Agree- stances" which would justify the jobs. ment, they did not have to post contracting out of the work — Business Agent Betty the jobs if temps were being used even though both parties agreed Carrrasco reports that Arbitra- for "legitimate" reasons. the work was normally per- tor Don Munroe issued the rul- The arbitrator accepted the formed by TWU members. ing on May 17. Union's argument in ruling that Mr. Kelleher ruled that the At the hearing, the Union had argued that Telus should be re- the company must post the 41 111W MINERS sale of the building did not con- Sery Rep jobs. At the time, the @FLORES/CALM/980665 stitute unusual circumstances quired to post Sery Rep posi- company was employing 84 within the meaning of the Agree- tions filled by temporary em- temporaries as Sery Reps. ment and therefore the company ployees on the grounds of "regu- TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 3

Current assignments of the 16 Union officers Following are the current assignments of the 16 Union officers. They include responsibility for servicing the various TWU Locals, work on Union and joint committees, and other related duties, for example, representing the Union on committees of the B.C. Federation of Labour and the CLC. The four table officers - President, two Vice-Presidents and Secretary-Treasurer - have numerous responsibilities as outlined in the Union Constitution. The assignments listed below are additional responsibilities they have undertaken.

President Vice-President Vice-President Secretwy-Treasurer

ROD HIEBERT NEIL MORRISON BRUCE BELL KATHY PEARN TWU Pension trustee; Arbitrations; Bargaining Committee; TWU Pension trustee; Bargaining Committee; Merger Committee; COTC Committee; Finance Committee (ex-officio) Federation of Labour Officer; Work Jurisdiction Ctte; Local 63; Pay Equity Steering Committee; NACU and UNI representative; Pay & Employment Equity Ctte.; Organizing; Merger Committee; NACU Committee; Committees: Merger, Pay Equity Clerical Job Evaluation Ctte. Education, Apprenticeship Cttes. Merger Committee Burnaby Business Agents

JUNE LEWIS JIM CHRISTENSEN BETTY CARRASCO KAREN WHITFIELD Local 43 Locals 5, 36; Locals 50, 64; Locals 1, 38; Human Rights Officer; Work Jurisdiction Committee; COTC Committee; Pay Equity and Employment Equity; MAP Officer; MAP Officer; Corporate Temp Ctte.; Clerical Job Postings; Joint Workplace Harassment Ctte.; Plant Job Description Ctte.; Job Sharing Ctte.; BC Fed Executive Council; Employment Equity Ctte.; Organizing Committee; Organizing Ctte.; Women's Rights Committee; BC Fed. Social Action Committee Compressed Work Week Ctte. Compressed Work Week Ctte. Clerical Job Evaluation

MIKE SLADE PETER MASSY HOPE CUMMING FRAN GUILLET Locals 3, 14, 27, 35; Locals 17, 32, 51, 52, 23; Locals 20, 7; Locals 53, 23, 63; Compassionate Transfers; Bargaining Committee; Bargaining Committee; Political Action (TWU & Fed.); Development Project Investments; Health and Benefits trustee; COTC Committee; Merger Committee; Operator Service Steering Ctte. Committees: Operator Service, Arbitration Assistance; Fed. Women's Rights Ctte. Job Sharing, Teminal Usage Merger Committee Out-of-town Business Agents

TIM WILLIAMS BILL SILVESTER RON WILLIAMS GEORGE DOUBT Locals 30, 39, 60; Locals 2, 11, 21, 31; (Prince George) (Kelowna) Health & Safety Committee; Calgary Merger Office; Locals 9, 18, 26, 28, 33, 34, 37, 41; Locals 6, 16, 22, 8, 15, 24, 4, 25; Plant Job Postings; Compressed Work Week Edmonton Merger Office; Health & Safety Ctte. (back-up); Committees: Trade Advisory, Committee. Committees: Apprenticeship, Committees: CDC, Splicer Rotation, Operator Service, ACD Compressed Work Week; Construction Out-of-Town Kelowna WCB Appeals

TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 4 NACU delegates propose closer Union ties

and he concluded: "We must stand united CEP before the CIRB against Island Tel, and resist the desire of employers to pick who were seeking a ruling that the Internet at any one of our Unions. arm did not come under federal jurisdic- The CAW delegate speaking on behalf tion. The CIRB ruled in favour of the of Dave Halikowski noted that when Union, finding it did come under federal CNCP became Unitel about half the mem- jurisdiction and could not be separated. bers were laid off, dropping from 1400 to CWA President Morton Bahr also ad- 700, and in 1995 they joined CAW. Since dressed the conference, on essentially the then they have organized Metro-Net and same themes he dealt with in his speech gained 300 new members. The CAW to the TWU convention the week of Feb- spokesperson said temporary work is a big ruary 28, already reported in the March problem for their Union, and as the com- Transmitter. pany spins off new subsidiaries, they lose kin Angus, Communications analyst, ,...... m. Aki' - • .o . .' , work. He said these are common prob- told delegates the telecom industry is in , AIM'- - -"'•-,°' lems shared by all telephone unions. turmoil, undergoing rapid changes, and President Rod Hiebert addresses NACU conference; TWIT delegates, foreground Philip Bowyer from the international Unions can't continue to operate as in the union body UNI (formerly PTTI) told past when the industry is changing. More than 150 representatives from - Unions should negotiate language in conference participants these are serious Angus pointed to five underlying rea- 7ommunications unions across Canada, their Agreements to govern mergers, there times in telecommunications. UNI, he sons for the rapid expansion of the indus- ncluding 20 TWU representatives, met should be more common bargaining, and explained, was formed by bringing to- try: demand for services, death of dis- n Ottawa April 28-29 to discuss how to more rights for temporary employees. gether four unions in communications. tance, proliferation of new services, glo- zchieve greater co-operation and co-or- - NACU should develop a strategic He said companies are increasingly balization and price cuts. lination of strategies. communications plan. As part of that, deregulated while at the same time they To illustrate the rapidity of change, he The conference of the National Alli- build a web page and discussion group are becoming more consolidated, for ex- noted that in 1980 Americans made 200 ince of Communications Unions took as on the Internet. Also do a publication on ample, into local service, long distance, million international phone calls averag- ts theme the need for closer union co- NACU explaining what it is and what it internet, banking, publishing and broad- ing 10 minutes, but by 1998 it had grown veration in an era of global telecom- does. casting. to 4.8 billion calls averaging three min- munications. In addition to representa- - The next steering committee meeting As examples, he noted the move of utes. fives offour participating unions — of NACU is to develop a comparison chart AT&T into CATV and Bell Canada into There are 60,000 call centres in North rwu, AC&TWU, and CAW — speakers between Collective Agreements to help Expressvu and CTV. Banks are joining America with three million agents, and it at the conference included: Philip develop common bargaining strategies, with telephone companies (Spain is a is growing by 30% per year. 9owyer, Deputy General Secretary of the and a NACU group should meet with bar- prime example) because of the link be- There has also been an explosion in Union Network International (UNI); gaining committees of member Unions. tween e-commerce and the Internet. toll-free 800 numbers, from 3 4 million Communications Analyst Iain Angus; The conference opened with remarks Power, water and gas companies, and pub- (after 25 years) in 1993, to 21.4 million Carleton Professor Vincent Mosco, and from the heads of the four participating lishing companies, are now major multi- today, and they now use 25% of AT&T C'W4 President Morton Bahr, among oth- Unions. CEP President Fred Pomeroy media giants. network per day. rs. noted 90% of Canadian telephone work- Bowyer said there is an incredible con- Concurrent with this is the fibre revo- The 20 TWU delegates included the ers are now members of one of the four centration of power in telecom and media lution, with virtual unlimited capacity. In rour table officers, the new bargaining unions (CEP, TWU, AC&TWU or industries, with multi-media content now 1988, it took six fibres to carry one TV 7ommittee, and eight delegates elected CAW). controlled by eight major companies. broadcast, while today one fibre can carry it convention — Sherryl Anderson, Rod Pomeroy warned that we must not ever At the same time, employment has 700 TV broadcasts. 7iddens, Rick Fleming, Leslie become part of a race to compete for work been reduced by 50% in telecom, which The cost of moving a "bit" of infor- rlammond, Julie Labine, Lee Riggs, by lowering our union contracts or by of- now includes broadcasting, printing and mation is now almost zero, and the cost 7rian Wolfe and Larry Smallwood. fering concessions. publishing, as well as traditional tele- of moving a bit across the street is the Vice-President Neil Morrison and He noted the four unions in the past phone companies and related industries. same as around the world. tarry Smallwood have made available worked together on regulatory issues, and He said new companies are hard to orga- Angus noted that along with these opies of their notes from the conference, commented: "We thought that was big, nize because work is outsourced, espe- changes is a proliferation of choices for vhich form the basis of this report. but it was nothing compared to what we cially in Operator Services. consumers. There are only different Consensus of delegates at the close of are now facing and where we are now Bowyer said there are over 900 unions phones, but more important, different he conference included the following: going. We are faced with employer alli- in 140 companies. He said Unions must technologies to choose from — wireless, - The conference was important and ances that stretch from Canada to Mexico use the Internet and new methods to or- cellular, PCS and now digital. thould be held annually. and beyond. Our Unions must form alli- ganize workers in telecom, and Unions In 1995 there were predictions of a - The Unions should strive for a corn- ances to meet those demands." must work together to organize global possible 25% penetration of cellular — non wage rate across the country. TWU President Rod Hiebert's speech multinational companies, in the face of today there is already 50% penetration in - Everyone should try to bargain a con- is reprinted elsewhere in this Transmit- corporate resistance. some European countries. Wireless is racting out clause similar to that of the ter, but to summarize briefly, he said West He told delegates that in Europe there technologically capable of handling all CWU, and unions should develop a com- Coast telephone workers enjoy a great is a "Social Dialogue Committee" com- telecom now. non education course so the rank-and-file working relationship with other telephone prising 20 Union reps and 20 company Mass data communications took every- now the advantage of negotiating no con- workers in Canada. reps who meet to discuss and seek con- one by surprise, he said. Over 50% of racting out. The big challenges are to fight those sensus on issues such as training and North American adults use the Internet - Unions should consider the feasibil- employers who are focused on destroy- health and safety. daily. Sixteen-year-olds are on Internet ty of a common bargaining table for ing our Unions, Hiebert said. The tele- Professor Vincent Mosco discussed chat lines while they are getting dressed wages. They should try to arrange corn- phone companies are doing what they can convergence in the industry and its im- in the morning. non expiry dates for Collective Agree- to lower wage levels. In Alberta, for ex- pact on labour. He said convergence, This is a global network where anyone nents. ample, they wre successful in lowering which puts data, voice and video together can invent technology and sell it. Inven- - More emphasis should be placed on operator's wages to $12 an hour. into a common digital language, is more tions now are software programs, and )etter pensions. We need job security against layoffs, than a technical idea, it is also a political hundreds of thousands of people are con- - Work to get apprenticeship programs and we must not and will not make con- idea. stantly working on them. ;oing again. cessions, he stated. He said we are still trying to regulate The internet combines all types of com- - Unions should work to organize non- Next speaker was Gary Grant of the the industry as in the past, but whereas munication and confounds any type of inion jobs, for example, of competitors Atlantic region's AC&TWU, who noted the print, broadcast, telecom and com- classification, Angus said, and he pre- Ind contractors. the workers had been represented by the puter industries used to be separate indus- dicted: - A national bargaining committee IBEW for 50 years, but in 1984 separated tries, they are rapidly becoming one. Demand will continue to increase, the hould be available to alliance members from the IBEW and formed the The companies are getting more and price of moving bits will contine to drop, f the company targets one union. AC&TWU, and that a proud moment for more alike, and as well jobs are getting and long distance will disappear. - Protection of seniority for workes the Union came in 1991 when telephone more and more alike, and the job of unions "You can't sit on the sidelines waiting who are swept in through mergers. operators joined them. is to make employers recognize that jobs for things to calm down, because they - Unions should do more to educate and Grant said telephone issues are the are the same and to pay accordingly. aren't going to calm down," he concluded. nvolve younger members. same from Newfoundland to Vancouver, Mosco told delegates he testified for "You ain't seen nothing yet."

TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 5 We face the same issues: Hiebert

The following is the text of the speech only the tip of the iceberg. We must all that there be no concessions. Secondly, by TWU President Rod Hiebert to the support those workers and work together all telephone workers should have job National Alliance of Communications to see that they get a fair collective agree- security with protection against contract- Unions held in Ottawa April 28-29, ment. An injury to one is an injury to ing out and layoffs. We must continue 2000. all. to develop Canada-wide lobbying ses- By ROD HIEBERT With the break-up of Stentor and the sions and strategy sessions with respect I bring greetings from telephone work- introduction of inter-provincial compe- to all of the significant challenges we ers on the West Coast. tition by carriers, we're into the next step collectively face. Telephone workers of BC value very in competition. Jurisdictional lines are When all the Union leaders represent- LARRY SMALLWOOD much the strong working relationship and blurring. They would like us to compete ing telecom in Canada stand together on Local 7 delegate Larry Smallwood par- sharing that has developed between our against each other by lowering wages and a regulatory or legislative issue, politi- ticipates in round table discussion at Unions from coast to coast. working conditions. cians and Telecos pay attention and we NACU conference in Ottawa. Smallwood We have worked together with some We have already seen the devastating together can be a significant force in set- was one of 8 TWU delegates elected at con- of your organizations for nearly 50 years. effects when operators at Telus in Alberta ting future direction for communications vention to attend the two-day conference Regardless of what region or province were taken into a Union at $12 per hour in Canada. we are from, the same issues are facing — half the rate of other Union opera- I believe that we must strengthen our telephone workers everywhere. tors. By dropping the benchmark they ties in order that we can operate almost Union Women's We are being challenged constantly, set the stage for the vicious attack on the as a single unit when we are challenged. by the era of megamergers, regulated operators at Bell Canada. We have the ability to mobilize and pro- Institute July 5-9 competition, and rapid technological Together we build strong Unions by test nationally for workers under attack. The Summer Institute for Union Women, change. working together and moving the line Together we are a significant force. sponsored by the B.C. Federation of Labour These giant telcos have a lot of power, ahead, not by joining the spiral to the There is a bright future for telephone and the CLC, will be held at the BCIT cam- they stick together, and can be an ex- bottom. workers but we must work with each pus in Burnaby July 5-9, 2000. tremely nasty bunch. We must not let Companies like Bell, other, as well as with Unions all over The Institute offers an intensive week of We have just come through their cor- Telus MTS, Maritime Tel and Sask Tel the world like the CWA both directly learning within a supportive environment in which union women can develop their porate drive where each telco tried to at- whip saw us, Union against Union and and through the Union Network Inter- skills as workers, activists and leaders. tain the lowest cost per line. That drive worker against worker. national. Deadline for registration is June 16. For resulting in layoffs, downsizing and con- We must look for new and better ways Today we collectively must determine information or registration forms, telephone tracting to assist each other in our hour of need. where we are going from here with the the Federation of Labour at 604-430-1421. What is the next corporate challenge? It is imperative that we discuss joint National Alliance of Communications The TWU executive council has voted Conrad Black's attempt to break the bargaining strategies. Unions. to sponsor five TWU members to the con- Union at the Calgary Herald could be Our first goal at bargaining should be United we stand, divided we fall. ference. Members interested in attending should contact the TWU Education Com- W.U. mittee through the Union office. 0%pIlka BAK SFU offers Labour Studies degree program Simon Fraser University has just launched its first degree program of the new millennium — the new BA minor in Labour Studies. The first group of stu- dents will be enrolled this September. The program marks another first for SFU. Despite the vast contribution of organized labour toward building the Prince George TWU members Tina Unger, Jean Brien and Lisa Sitter, centre, start off the Cancer Society's "Relay for a Cure" 24- province, B.C. has never had a univer- hour walkathon May 6. The yearly event raises money for cancer research and financial aid to patients and families. This is the third sity program that focuses just on the year the TWU has entered its own team. Overall, 138 teams participated, and raised more than $212,000. Lisa Sitter (Local 18 world of work and working people. President) thanks all members who participated and who donated generously to the cause. Special thanks to participants Jean Brien, University faculty and representatives Tracy Camazzola, Angela Ceal, Lee Ann Cooper, Jay Dumas, Lauren Friesen, Lynn Gilliard, Leila Hansen, Louise Hartnagel, June of the CLC and BC Federation of Labour Hills and daughter Taffe, Gwen Ireland, Heather McLeish, Cathy Moe, Nancy Muirhead, Marlene Pauls, Don and Lori Ruggles, have worked together for over two years Elaine Schlivinsky, Lisa and Lyle Sitter, Deanne Szederknyi, Esme Stuckless, Tina Unger, Judy Vallee and Nick Warner. to design the degree program. For more details about the program, contact Tom Nesbit at the SFU Centre for Labour Studies at 291-4177, or Mark Leier in the Department of History at MP's debate safety law 291-5827. By Pat Martin, MP, • Expanded roles for health and safety NDP Labour Critic committees. A new federal safety law is currently • In workplaces with more than 300 SEND YOUR KIDS TO CAMP being debated in the House of Commons. employees, policy health and safety com- Camp Jubilee is accepting applications for their Summer 2000 Ad- Bill C-12, a new and improved Part 2 mittees to deal with accident prevention, venture Program. Parents of children aged 8 to 15 are encourged to of the Canada Labour Code, deals with purchase of protective equipment, and so phone the camp office and have a package sent to them. the health and safety of the 1.1 million on. Canadians who work in the federal work- The process of redrafting the federal The dates of the camp are: August 6-13 and August 13-20. The place jurisdiction. labour law began in 1994. Negotiations cost is $475 and sponsorship may be available. Please call Dave at Highlights of Bill C-12 include: involving government, business and 432-7529 for details, or check out the Camp Jubilee website: • Additional protection for pregnant labour resulted in many "consensus campjubilee.bc.ca and working mothers. agreements". Where no consensus was Camp Jubilee is a registered non-profit association which is dedi- • Additional rights regarding the right reached, the government has made uni- cated to community service and is funded through the labour move- to refuse dangerous work. lateral proposals. Most of these non-con- ment. • New requirements for workplace sensus items are acceptable to labour, and If you are interested in sponsoring a child, call Dave at 432-7529. hazard-prevention programs. likely to business as well. Donations to the camp may be made through the United Way.

TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 6 May 26, 2000: 7 p.m.: Big Party: Big Smiles

After the vote, the partying began! TWU officers threw the party on May 6 to thank the members who had put in countless hours over the past months orking in the Union office before and during the representation vote. In totos, at left, officers mingle with guests. At right, top, B.A. Peter Massy rid folksinger Valdy (what resemblance???); centre, Mari and Leigh fcCracken; and below, special guest from Edmonton, Marion Leskiw, Presi- mt of CSU52 and good friend of TWU. TWU Locals We want to hear from you!

The Transmitter would like to receive more news from union locals. What's happening in your local that might be of interest to other union members? Upcoming events, local activities, con- cerns, issues you'd like to raise . . . Interesting things your fel- low-workers may be doing - in the union or in the community. Let us know about it! We are also interested in announcements of retirements of long-time members. Take the information to your local secretary-treasurer or your local Transmitter liaison person, or forward it directly to: Transmitter Editor 5261 Lane Street Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6 or telephone 604-437-8601 or fax 604-435-7760.

ANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 7 Telus acquisition gives more access to Quebec

From a report in the April 1 Globe eign ownership restrictions that pre- and Mail cluded it from competing aggressively BCT.Telus Communications Inc. outside its territory. GTE, based in struck at the heart of its national rival's Irving, Tex., also owns a 26.7-per-cent territory in central Canada yesterday interest in BCT.Telus. by grabbing a 70-per-cent stake in QuebecTel, based in Rimouski, QuebecTel Group Inc. for $585-mil- runs the second-largest phone system lion. in Quebec with more than 300,000 The move by BCT.Telus, the domi- phone lines on the North Shore and in nant phone company in Western the Eastern Townships. Gaining con- Canada, unshackles QuebecTel from trol of QuebeTel gives BCT.Telus ac- regulatory restrictions on expansion cess to a network and business cus- within Quebec and opens up a major tomers in Bell Canada's core market front in the telecommunications war between Quebec City and Montreal. for rival BCE Inc.'s business custom- BCT.Telus, which is Canada's sec- ers. ond-largest phone company, shook up Terming the deal "a remarkable the industry last year when it created strategic fit," Brian Canfield, acting a national company to expand beyond president and chief executive officer Alberta and British Columbia and of Burnaby, BC-based BCT.Telus, told compete with the dominant phone Day of Mourning reporters yesterday that it will accel- companies of Eastern Canada. erate his company's entry into Que- "Becoming part of a Canadian Ceremonies to mark the Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job were held across bec "by almost two years." owned undertaking opens up fantas- Canada. April 28. Among the ceremonies in B.C. attended by TWU members were the one at Prince The deal will also see U.S. phone tic growth opportunities," said Hugues St Pierre, president and CEO of George City Hall, above, with TWU Local 18 Secretary Leila Hansen, third from left; and below, at giant GTE Corp. reduce its stake in QuebecTel to 30 per cent from 51 per QuebecTel is ready to serve all of Vancouver City Hall, where TWU was represented by Executive Assistant Steve Wood, at left, and B.A. cent, freeing the company from for- Quebec." June Lewis, not shown in picture. QuebecTel's board has recom- mended that shareholders approve the $23-a-share offer that will see Canada should retain right to set own BCT.Telus acquire a 49-per-cent stake from public minority shareholders and, through a corporate reorganiza- tion, a 21-per-cent holding from GTE communications policy in our interest financed through available debt facili- ties. News of the deal gave QuebecTel's share price a $1.75 boost yesterday on By ROD HIEBERT, cost of deploying local residen- crease in the number of foreign We believe that Canadians the Toronto Stock Exchange, where TWU President tial lines to all regions of communications companies oper- the stock closed at $22.40 — a new must retain the right to deter- 52 week high. BCT.Telus's share price Canadians have built a world Canada." In other words, these ating in Canada; pressure from in- mine their communications was off slightly, falling 60 cents on the class telecommunications sys- charges are one of the linchpins cumbent companies to abandon needs and to create regulatory TSE to close at $43. tem, one that provides access to of Canada's successful commu- their responsibility to serve to high strategies to address these needs. Industry watchers and analysts be- state-of-the-art services on a nications system. cost areas; and significant rate in- We therefore call upon the Fed- lieve the deal makes good sense for both players. universally available, affordable But the USTR isn't con- creases to customers located in eral Government, public inter- "QuebecTel had to either find new basis. This success story did not cerned about the continued vi- these high cost areas. est groups and regulatory tribu- markets or wither away and die," said happen by accident. To achieve ability of Canadian communica- If the US Government is suc- nals to ensure: Ian Grant, managing partner at these goals, the Canadian Gov- tions. Her announcement stems cessful in forcing our Govern- ( That a process is developed Brockville, Ont.-based Yankee Group ernment and the CRTC devel- from a complaint filed by New in Canada. ment to abandon subsidization to ensure that Canadians retain BCT.Telus and QuebecTel plan to oped rules to regulate our tele- York-based AT&T Corporation, of local rates and foreign own- effective sovereignty and control jointly pursue the more lucrative busi- communications system to en- which owns a minority stake in ership rules, the implications for over our public telecommunica- ness market in Bell Canada's territory, sure that it works for all Cana- AT&T Canada, alleging that Canada will be serious. Such tions system. Mr. Canfield said. dians, regardless of their socio- Canada is violating its pledge Although he refused to disclose the decisions could lead to a marked ( That our foreign ownership full details of BCT.Telus's plans Mr. economic status or where they under the World Trade Organi- deterioration in local service — rules are not changed in closed Canfield said the company will ex- live. This regulatory arrange- zation 1997's basic telecom especially in rural areas, where door World Trade Organization pand QuebecTel's fibre-optic network ment strengthens Canada's cul- agreement to deregulate its long the cost of providing service is negotiating sessions. to Quebec City and Montreal and con- ture by linking our vibrant ur- distance market. Also complain- significantly higher than it is in nect those lines to BCT.Telus's na- ( That the Canadian public be tional network now being built. ban centres, as well as the far- ing about the CRTC's policy are our cities. consulted prior to any signifi- To comply with foreign ownership flung rural and remote areas of Call-Net Enterprises and Primus In a related move, the U.S. cant changes in these and other rules prior to this deal, QuebecTel has the country. Furthermore, it pro- Telecommunications Canada Government is demanding that regulations designed to protect had to do business beyond its serving vides more than 100,000 good Inc. Call-Net is part owned by Canada abandon its foreign area through a partly owned subsid- the public interest. iary, QuebecTel Alize, which has also jobs and makes a significant the US-based Sprint Corpora- ownership requirements. The ( That a complete and thor- been confined to leasing, rather than contribution to the economy of tion, while Primus is wholly US- National Alliance of Communi- ough public review process be owning network facilities outside its Canada. In short, our telecom- owned. cations Unions has taken a developed to review the state of territory. QuebecTel Alize currently munications system plays an CRTC regulations require strong stand against the relax- telecommunications in Canada has about 400 employees in Montreal and Quebec City, Mr. Canfield said. important part in tying Canada these companies and others op- ation of foreign ownership rules. and to determine the regulations Still, analysts predict that together as a nation. erating in the Canadian long-dis- As we watch megamergers un- which must be developed to en- BCT.Telus will not be a strong com- Now, however, the United tance business to pay tens of fold world-wide, it is easy to see sure that Canadian telecommu- petitor in Eastern Canada for at least States Trade Representative millions of dollars a year to lo- that Canadian Communications nications continue to serve the three years. The company's own mod- est goals reflect that reality. (USTR), Charlene Barshefsky, cal phone companies, exposing could soon be dominated by one public interest. BCT.Telus expects sales of $60-mil- is saying that the financial con- them to what Ms. Barshefsky or two giant American Telecom- If these issues are not seri- lion in 2000 from its national arm, tribution which the CRTC re- describes as "potential anti- munications companies, leaving ously addressed in the near fu- increasing fivefold to $300-million by quires foreign companies to pay competitive risk". She has an- us with no power to regulate ture, there is a real danger that 2002. as a condition of getting into the nounced plans to review the situ- However, other industry watchers their behaviour. As people who Canadians could relinquish con- predict the QuebecTel deal could trig- Long Distance voice business in ation in October, when the work in the industry, we are also trol over their telecommunica- ger an aggressive response from Bell Canada violates World Trade United States could launch a aware that tens of thousands of tions system and that it could Canada boss Jean Monty Organization guidelines. Ironi- formal complaint against Canadian jobs could be trans- become a sector owned by and "I think this move will set off an- cally, Ms. Barshefsky under- Canada at the World Trade Or- ferred out of the country with a other round of consolidation in the for Americans, with all of the industry," said Douglas Cunningham, stands why the CRTC requires ganization. flip of a switch. This would have attendant social, economic and president of Network Research Inc. of companies to pay these charges, If the US is successful in us- a devastating effect on the work- political problems that would Oakville, Ont. noting that "the contribution ing the WTO to force the CRTC ers who lose their jobs, their entail. Although the BCT.Telus- funds are redistributed to local to reduce these financial contri- communities and the Canadian QuebecTel deal still needs the ap- Text of news release distrib- proval of GTE's board, GTE supports service companies to defray the butions, we can expect: an in- economy in general. uted April 19, 2000 the transaction, GTE vice-chairman Mike Masin said. TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 8 rwu Human Rights complaint filed in 1994 alleges Telus guilty of wage discrimination

In December, 1994, the TWU Plan, they will return to do the to Wage Group 5). We also job evaluation plan and our ob- Muldoon decision. Justice ed a pay equity complaint real study, which will involve a eliminated the bottom two cleri- servations of gender bias; Muldoon of the Federal Court th the Canadian Human sample of 200 to 300 jobs cal wage groups, reducing the - A detailed outline of our issued a ruling on the pay eq- ghts Commission.. throughout the company, with a number to eight from 10. bargaining history with respect uity complaint brought against The complaint alleged that target date of later this month In the 1992 Agreement, we to pay equity. Bell Canada by CEP and other TEL (now Telus) was guilty (June). The intent is to then again achieved some top-up dol- The Human Rights Commis- Unions at Bell. In brief, the 'wage discrimination against evaluate those jobs based on the lars, although only about half as sion accepted our complaint and Muldoon decision undercut a female employees, and the questionnaires and determine the much as in 1990, and eliminated the company strenuously ob- Union's right to file a complaint mplaint marked a major step gender-based wage gap. another two clerical wage jected. BC TEL claimed bad on behalf of its members, mainly the Union's campaign to We turn now to the story of groups, as well as some incre- faith because we had bargained on the grounds the Union had 0se the wage gap between how we have reached the cur- ment steps. the rates and hadn't exhaused been a party to the negotiations zle and female employees. rent point in our 12-year cam- Throughout this time, the other procedures. which resulted in the wage rates The purpose of this article is paign to achieve pay equity. Union was also attempting to Coincidentally, the Commis- in question. 'o fold: to bring Members up In the federal jurisdiction, the eliminate the use of Job Evalu- sion at this time was also deal- (The CEP appealed the date on recent developments Canadian Human Rights Act ation by BC TEL for Clerical ing with stalling tactics and ob- Muldoon decision and eventu- the pay equity battle, and to and guidelines provide the leg- workers, but we were unsuc- jections of Bell Canada to the ally the Appeal Court over- ovide background informa- islative framework for pay eq- cessful. In 1992 BC TEL uni- Pay Equity complaint filed by turned it, and in 1999 the CEP m on how the pay equity cam- uity Section 11 is key. It states: laterally developed and imple- the CEP, the Union at Bell. and other unions involved in the zign has evolved over the "It is a discriminatory prac- mented a new Job Evaluation The Commission did not case negotiated a settlement with 'ars — that is, how we have tice for an employer to estab- Plan which they said would sat- want to go through the same Bell Canada which provided a me to the current situation. lish or maintain differences in isfy the terms of the federal lengthy legal challenges with BC substantial pay equity payment Business Agent Karen wages between male and fe- legislation and address pay eq- TEL, and the TWU was asked to the members in question.) liitfield has been a leader in male employees employed in uity in Clerical. The company to provide futher details to es- However, in the interim, BC e Union's pay equity cam- the same establishment who committed a minimum of two tablish a prima-facie case. We TEL used the Muldoon decision tign since its inception in the are performing work of equal million dollars to clerical jobs had some concerns with this re- as an excuse to withdraw from to 1980's. Sister Whitfield value." through the new job evaluation quest, as we thought it was the the joint process which was get- poke to a Pay Equity Forum The value of work is defined plan. The two million dollars Commission's job to gather such ting underway. )onsored by CUPE in as being a composite of skill, was welcome, but in our view information, but we agreed to Even worse, in addition to inaimo in February 1999, effort, responsibility and work- did not achieve equity. comply as we felt it would help withdrawing from the agree- zd has kindly provided her ing conditions. The legislation The 1994 contract achieved us get the process moving and ment, BC TEL applied to the ,eech notes to the Transmitter. is complaint-based and relies on significantly less in terms of pay leave less room for future legal Commission to dismiss our com- iose notes provide much of the some form of gender-neutral job equity than either of the two pre- challenges. plaint, citing all the same zckground information in this evaluation to determine whether vious agreements, and it was It took the TWU three months grounds Bell had used in front port. the work of female-dominated clear that the momentum was with five people working full of Justice Muldoon, as well as The most recent develop- jobs are of equal value to male- slowing. It was also increas- time to pull the volumes of data other objections. ents with respect to our corn- dominated jobs within the same ingly clear that the company's together. Our study showed a The Commission considered aint to the Canadian Human establishment. Wages of male- job evaluation plan was biased wage gap ranging from $18 to BC TEL's allegations but in ights Commission (CHRC), as dominated jobs cannot be re- and would not meet the guide- $35 a day for clerical workers December 1998 dismissed the ' April 2000, are as follows: duced to achieve pay equity. lines of the federal legislation. and $38 a day for operators. company's application and is During the last week of ( The following figures were We concluded we would have The Commission reviewed our now continuing the investigation [arch, CHRC investigators at the time of Sister Whitfield's to alter our pay equity strategy findings and concluded we did of the Union's complaint. The Lme to B.C. to conduct some speech in early 1999, but they to include the legal route, so on indeed have a prima-facie case. company refuses to do a joint •eliminary evaluations and tour have changed only slightly in the December 16, 1994, we filed a However, because the com- study, saying that is the job of variety of Telus jobs in the intervening year or so.) Human Rights Pay Equity Com- pany had not been involved, and the Commission, and so the awer Mainland. There are approximately plaint on behalf of all workers because we alleged their job Commission is proceeding, Despite a number of initia- 10,300 bargaining Unit employ- in female-dominated jobs at BC evaluation plan was biased in which includes changes to the yes to attempt to jointly deter- ees at BC TEL, comprising 850 TEL. any event, the Commission de- Telus job evaluation plan to ine the extent of the gender- operators, 4,900 Clerical and In addition to the primary rea- cided to do a follow-up wage eliminate the gender bias so that Bed wage gap at BC TEL, the 4,550 Plant/Craft. The female- son of seeking equal treatment study by themselves. We again the Plan can be used to deter- )mpany continues to resist any dominated jobs in Operator Ser- for all members, there were a co-operated fully with the Com- mine the wage gap. trticipation in resolution of the vices and Clerical make signifi- number of other significant rea- mission in the preliminary work, It is too early to know what )mplaint, so the CHRC has cantly less money then the male- sons for filing the complaint. and they planned to do the study impact the Telus merger will ;cided to press forward with dominated jobs in Plant/Craft. First, the date the complaint in March of 1997. have on the company's strategy ir complaint without the In 1988, the TWU commis- is filed sets a point in time for Meanwhile, the Pay Equity in dealing with the pay equity )mpany's co-operation. sioned a study to examine our retroactivity. issue was also again on the bar- complaint, or whether they will The Commission is develop- options on pay equity. Those Second, there is also the pos- gaining table, and in December eventually agree to negotiate a g their own job information options included pursuing pay sibility that a member or groups 1996 a new Collective Agree- settlement with us. iestionnaire and job evaluation equity through collective bar- of members could file a com- ment was concluded which in- But as we noted at the start an, and when it is completed gaining and/or filing a complaint plaint on their own without the cluded a Letter of Agreement for of the article, the Commission ey intend to do a pay equity under the Canadian Human Union (that had already hap- the TWU and BC TEL to do a is proceeding with the process udy of BC TEL workers. The Rights Act. At the time, the pened to the TWU). joint pay equity study. This ap- despite the company's stalling [arch 2000 visit was designed Union decided to deal with the Third, the Union could face peared to mark a significant step and lack of co-operation, and is allow them to see the wide issue solely at the bargaining financial liability. Employers forward, and the Commission gearing up for a study involv- .nge of work done by TWU table, and initially we had con- were beginning to claim the stopped work on their own study ing some 200 to 300 jobs embers and to pilot test the job siderable success with that ap- Union shared liability because and assumed the role of "over- throughout the company. mluation tools they are devel- proach. they had negotiated the wages, seer" of the joint study. It's been a long and involved ring. The Commission started In the 1990 Collective Agree- and Courts were beginning to It took quite some time to get process, and it's not over yet. ith a sample of 22 jobs drawn ment (the first round of bargain- pay heed to that argument. underway, but by the early But we believe we continue to om Plant, Clerical and Opera- ing in which pay equity was spe- To return to the TWU story, spring of 1998 had finished their make progress and eventually a T Services and had one incum- cifically on the table), we our pay equity complaint in- review of the Job Evaluation fair settlement will be achieved, mit from each of those jobs fill achieved a pay equity provision cluded: Plan and were recommending either through the company it the job information question- of $2 per day day in the first year - A preliminary wage gap changes to it before they moved coming to its senses and sitting lire. They then did a site visit of the contract, and an additional analysis which identified a 19 on with the study. down to negotiate with us, or f the 22 job sites, and others, $2 per day in the second year per cent gap between male and Then in March of 1998 a failing that, through a settlement help them fine-tune the Plan. for operators and clerical work- female dominated job classes; bombshell was dropped that imposed by the Human Rights Then they have completed the ers in the lower wage groups (up - An analysis of BC TEL's changed everything — the Commission. 'RANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 9 Great financial plans

experience and certification can help you address these specific concerns (among others): 1. Cash and Debt Management: • Does your income service your needs and lifestyle? • Are you servicing too much or the wrong kind of debt (and what is the right kind of debt?)? 2. Taxes: • Are you paying too much tax? • What tax-saving strategies The Fifty-Fifty Club are you missing? By: Bill Biles, CFP Two TWU Local Presidents, Monte Worthington (Local 60) and Rod Giddens 3. Insurance: Local 5), born the same day (although despite appearance, not identical twins), Financial Planner • Are you properly insured for elebrate 50th birthday in late April by working in Union office. Van Tel Credit Union Life, Disability, Property, Auto Editor's Note: Bill Biles is the Fi- and Travel? nancial Planner at Van Tel Credit • Have you thought about Canadians depend on Union and he hopes you, the reader- maintenance and education for ship of the TWU Transmitter, will you and your dependents, funeral help make this regular column your costs and personal and capital public pension plans own. If you have any questions you gains taxes? would like answered in this column, 4. Retirement Planning: From: CLC Faxpress/CALM please email ([email protected]), Public pensions should all be converted to RRSP's? Believe that Reform • Will you have enough to re- phone (604-656-6289), fax (604- arty policy prescription, and we have a bridge in Brooklyn available for tire when you want with the nick sale. 656-6299) or walk them in to Bill (at lifestyle you want? A CLC report released in April on public pensions highlights their impor- the new Financial Service Centre at • Would you like your pen- 'ince to Canada's elderly, particularly women. The report found that 70 per the "Boot') and he will answer ev- sion options or retirement pack- ant of Canada's retirees depend on public — not private — pensions for a ery question. age reviewed and explained? rajority of their retirement incomes. 5. Estate Planning: Written by a former chair of the Canadian government's Canadian Pension Life as a Financial Planner is not • Do you know what your es- Ian Advisory Board, Bob Baldwin, and an economist specializing in pen- always easy (as I'll tell anyone who tate objectives are and can you ons, Pierre Laliberte, the report examined Statistics Canada data from 1973 will listen). Not very 'many people meet them? ) 1996. have a grasp of the whole meaning of • Are your wills, powers of at- "Public pensions, our study shows, are steadier and more reliable than pri- Financial Planning, never mind have ate sources of income," said Baldwin, who is also the CLC's economic and torney and trust agreements cur- )cial policy department director. an idea what a Financial Planner does rent? Here's what else they found (all data in 1996 pre-tax dollars). all day. 6. Investment Portfolios: • Average incomes of older Canadians grew strongly from $22,468 in 1973 My two boys have friends whose • Do your investments reflect ) $32,667 in 1989, but then fell (as was the case with younger households) to fathers are policemen, firemen, teach- your income needs, future goals, 31,834 in 1996. ers, grocers, Telus employees and so age, risk tolerance and tax brack- • The major source of growth in incomes of older Canadians were CPP/ on. All manners of occupation young ets? 1PP, pensions and annuities. kids (and their parents) can under- • What can you do to maxi- • Investment income declined substantially after 1989. Average amounts stand and appreciate. When I told mize returns and minimize risks f employment income declined. my boys I'm a "Financial Planner" and costs? • Income from OAS/GIC remained stable for the period. there was a serious lack of enthusi- • Poverty for the elderly declined significantly from one-third of house- Many people associate Financial asm. For Career Days at school, olds (33.8%) in 1981 to one-fifth (20.8%) in 1996. However, even in 1996, Planning with buying mutual funds, sere were still a large portion of the elderly whose incomes hover just about where students explain what their or completing their taxes or even buy- to poverty line. parents do for a living, both boys ing insurance products. If you fol- • Women are over-represented among Canada's elderly poor. talked only of Mom (a 22 year Telus low the questions above you'll see • OAS/GIC accounted for 81.5 per cent of all income received by the poor- employee) and only vaguely explained that Financial Planning can be any or it 10 per cent of households in 1996. that Dad does something with all of these things but typically does people's money. not specialize in any one facet. A Fi- So if my own kids, whom I help nancial Planner should be able to JanTel wins award for FSC feed, clothe and entertain, don't care document your current financial situ- what I do, how can I hope to interest ation, suggest improvements, create VanTel Credit Union has been named winner of the prestigious Technovision Award the concerned public? Thankfully, a plan to implement these improve- • its innovative launch of a Financial Service Centre (FSC) at the Telus headquarters most people actually have real-life fi- ments as well as actually provide for ilding in Burnaby. nancial concerns over and above the or refer you to the correct service or The award is presented by the Information Technologies Credit Union Association cost of slurpees and bubble gum product provider. CUA), which represents 300 North American credit unions. cards. Issues like those raised by the The FSC concept involves the packaging of technology under the VanTel Express urn- The type of concerns a Financial ffla while continuing to provide a high level of personal service and convenience. The above list of questions will be ad- Planner deals with everyday are very press components include an Internet kiosk connected to the credit union's website and dressed in future "Great Financial me banking system; a direct-link phone system which provides access to accounts and important to how people meet their Plans " columns and I hope you will Ins-by-phone; an automated teller machine located at the back of the office; and a large financial goals (like retiring comfort- forward your questions and com- -een television which is tuned to a 24-hour financial channel. ably, educating their children, buying ments. My good friend and long time VanTel General Manager Terry Audette commented: a new speedboat, reducing taxes or member "Bob" will be sending in his "Our FSC provides members with choices. We believe the FSC can be used as a proto- passing on their estate — I threw in questions on a regular basis, but I x for out-of province expansion opportunities which have been created by recent merg- the speedboat for my wife to con- promise to answer all of yours as ; of the phone companies in B.C. and Alberta." sider). well. Here's to future "Great Finan- VanTel services are available to Telus employees, both bargaining unit members and A Financial Planner with the proper tnagers. cial Plans "! RANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 11 President's Report

Rod Hiebert 70% vote of support very gratifying As President of the TWU the company to ensure a At times all this may seem be setting up meetings in ing those offices and increas- — and I know I speak for good future for Telus em- a daunting task, but we can Alberta to work out a tran- ing staff levels to provide the all members of Executive ployees in both provinces. take heart from the fact that sition plan. These meetings representation that the Council on this matter — I In saying that, I in no way we begin with a very strong will deal with a variety of Alberta members expect am very gratified by the want to gloss over the size Collective Agreement base, questions including interim and deserve. overwhelming support we of the task or potential dif- and we have many years of representation, local struc- The challenge for all of us received from Telus workers ficulties that face us in the experience in our leadership tures, and longer-term plan- is to work together to build in Alberta and British Co- coming months. The TWU and our membership in both ning. Members in Alberta solidarity across the country. lumbia in the Union repre- is well aware of the magni- provinces in dealing with the will now be able to elect all Over the coming weeks sentation vote. When the tude of the job that lies employer. I have no doubt local executive officers and and months, we will be put- votes were counted May 26, ahead. There are many is- that together we have the shop stewards as they set up ting out bulletins and other we were extremely pleased sues and differences be- energy to resolve the issues locals to conform to their communications from the to see we had the support of tween the collective agree- we face and move forward. needs. At the same time, we Union office on what is be- more than 70 per cent of ments in B.C. and Alberta I also want to assure will be working with mem- ing proposed, and on any Union members from the that need to be resolved — members we plan to move bers and officers in Alberta decisions or agreements that two provinces. We thank issues involving contracting quickly to integrate our new to deal with issues such as we achieve. In the mean- you all for the faith you have out, jurisdiction, benefit members from Alberta into orientation sessions or time, if a member has any shown in us, and we make a plans and pensions, among the TWU — to build One courses that members may issues that need to be dealt commitment to work tire- other things. And at the Union not just in law but in be interested in. with, you can telephone the lessly on your behalf. same time, we must work to reality. Within the next few As many of you know, we TWU office in Burnaby at Your solid support gives bring the Telus "Eastern days — probably by the opened offices in Edmonton 604-437-8601, Edmonton at us the mandate we need in Build" under our Collective time you receive this issue of and Calgary some months 780-448-8911, or Calgary at our upcoming dealings with Amen**. the Transmitter — we will ago, and we will be expand- 403-237-6990.

Following is the seniority list for TWU members at Telus in B.C. as of May 18, 2000, by Division and Total

YEAR CLERICAL PLANT TRAFFIC First slow-down, 1671 TOTAL 1957 0 1 0 1 1958 0 1 0 1 1959 0 1 0 1 1960 0 2 0 2 1963 0 3 0 3 1964 5 17 1 23 1965 17 38 0 55 1966 25 91 5 121 1967 23 61 6 90 1968 56 46 5 107 1969 74 219 9 302 1970 77 180 7 264 1971 92 132 10 234 1972 100 232 14 346 1973 162 407 17 586 1974 215 415 25 655 1975 124 128 22 274 1976 132 300 12 444 1977 154 111 27 292 1978 121 87 24 232 1979 160 200 39 399 1980 225 280 63 568 1981 333 612 92 1037 1982 49 66 10 125 1983 57 18 18 93 1984 32 11 18 61 1985 52 16 13 81 1986 82 20 31 133 1987 124 25 32 181 1988 189 60 43 292 1989 240 80 41 361 1990 331 148 49 528 1991 50 47 5 102 1992 88 12 8 108 1993 47 7 3 57 Carpenters who came from France to work on ships in Quebec 1994 379 34 27 440 City asked for a raise when they found living cost more than 1995 271 12 40 323 they expected. The bosses said no and the workers started 1996 175 14 3 192 1997 273 52 31 356 taking five minutes to drive a nail and two days to saw a log. 1998 103 24 They got their raise. 9 136 @CLARKE/CALM/000267 1999 137 41 10 188 2000 28 4 1 33

TOTAL 4802 4255 770 9827

TRANSMITTER - June, 2000 - Page 12