Telus Workers Ratify New Deal
Prince George, B.C. – Telus employees across the country, including in Prince George, have ratified a new contract with their employer.
“It’s a six-year deal, but there’s five-years left in the agreement,” says Lee Riggs, national president at the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers Local 1944. “It’ll come up on Dec. 31, 2021. We got zero, zero, zero in the first three-years and 2 per cent, 2 per cent and 2 per cent in the last three-years.”
In lieu of no increases the first three years, he says the company is providing workers a lump sum payment of between $7,500 and $9,000.
Riggs says the union leadership didn’t recommend the deal because it contained “too many concessions.”
Regardless, he says roughly half of union membership – which totals about 10,800 employees in B.C. Alta., Ont., and Que. – turned out to vote, the highest turnout ever. 68 per cent voted in favour.
“It was extremely tough bargaining,” says Riggs. “They’re a very sophisticated employer and we’re a sophisticated union. It’s always hard bargaining with Telus.”
He says their last contract expired Dec. 31, 2015. There are roughly 400 Telus employees in Prince George.
Comments
Wow I thought only Public Sector employees got screwed on wage increases ( I am not talking about politicians, but rather the people who do the work ). Lump sum payments are not good for the employees in the long run. Just extra taxes paid at tax time and your actual wage never goes up to meet the cost of living increasing.
Sure hope Telus keeps their price increases to 0 for a few years.
“It’s always hard bargaining with Telus”. Yeah and unions are always such a pleasure to bargain with.
LunercomPG-Have to agree lump sum payments bribe money.
Lee Riggs, national president at the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers Local 1944 says the union leadership didn’t recommend the deal because it contained “too many concessions.”
He says roughly half of union membership – which totals about 10,800 employees in B.C. Alta., Ont., and Que. – turned out to vote, the highest turnout ever!
68 per cent voted in favour!
Perhaps the 68% looked at the deal and then looked at how many out of work people would like to have the wages, benefits and pension plan that Telus workers have! After doing that, I suspect that the majority rejected their leaderships recommendation, instead choosing to be grateful for what they have!
Nothing prevents you from applying for a Job at Telus or Hydro, you may even get one if you meet the Company Expectations !
That’s right, and the same for Telus workers, if they don’t like the working conditions, pay, hours of work, etc they are free to seek employment elsewhere. But we all know they won’t, deep down they know they have it pretty good.
……and that’s why 68% voted in favour of the deal! This is an example of common sense overriding the Union’s recommendation!
None of you are informed. This was a tough pill to swallow for all of us. The alternative, a strike where I wouldnt have been able to make payments on my house or feed my single income family. The company would have starved us out and no bribe at the end. Yes a big thank you for my highly skilled work while another North American Telco lines it’s pockets. Do you know how much it cost to build Telus Garden? Do you know what the slated cost of Telus Sky is? Make sure you pay your bills sheeple. Uncle Darren wants his money to make more obscene pillars of corporate greed. The buildings are “Leed certified” so dont worry, you wont be able to afford to live in one of the “green” residences either.
UsedTech is uninformed. If you are going to bite the hand that feeds you, do some research and get your facts straight.
TELUS has spent money on new buildings. Correct. They sold all of their old properties that were maintenance and money pits to fund the builds for new, greener buildings which cost less to operate. Do you fix the leaks in your roof, or ignore the drafts in your windows in the middle of winter? I am betting not.
Corporations need to make money. If they didn’t, you would be unemployed. Perhaps you should seek employment elsewhere. Free up a position for someone who would be grateful for having a good job, benefits, shares, yearly BONUS based on performance, security, oh and by the way… there is another $10,000.00 lump sum merit payment on top of the numbers above. That can also be deferred to 2017 to help with taxes, can be vested in a group RRSP, and is also in fully vested shares. Yes, the Union spokes person left that part out. $19,000.00 for technicians and $15,000.00 for the rest. New employees with less than 1 year are getting half!! That’s right! A new employee gets $9,500.00 as a result of this ratification. Then in Feb. everyone gets their performance bonus on top of that! Horrible life.
I am sure people would love to get that kind of money right now!!!
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