Bubbachuk , this Bud's for youBubba, several times now you have thumped the negotiating table Kruschev style throwing out a bunch of outlandish TWU lines in the sand, including this one.
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- Cover the cost of living increase in the major centers (at least!) which means minimum 3% each year RETROACTIVE. Signing bonuses are for hockey players and managers... we work for a living.
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Well you will be glad to know that your counterparts/competitors have indeed ratified a new labour contract, and you will be extremely pleased to learn that the deal was NEGOTIATED properly by their union negotiating committee!
BUT the results don't seem to quite come up to your expectations of a minimum of 3%, which is more than the average cost of living increase for the past five years.
Not only will there be a wage freeze for almost half of the Bell employees, the entry level wages have been pruned down and other CONCESSIONS were made.
And yunno why the union NEGOTIATED such an atypical new contract?
Well they were smart enough to figure out that their business world has changed and they had better start changing too before all of their well paid jobs are toast.
And maybe they also wanted to get a head's up on the very competitive new labour contract which TELUS is certain to get shortly!
Looks to me that a precedent has now been set by this NEGOTIATED deal for you and the TWU to reconsider those 3% pipe dreams.
Along with the NO CONCESSIONS/NO CONTRACTING OUT/NO MANDATORY OVERTIME. Wouldn't you agree?
Many Bell Canada clerical employees to have wages frozen for four years
July 15, 2005
MONTREAL (CP) - More than 40 per cent of Bell Canada's clerical employees will see their wages frozen for four years under a contract that provides for annual pay hikes of up to three per cent for other members.
"We had to make extremely difficult choices . . . and we just didn't want to have any more job losses due to outsourcing," Brenda Knight, president of the Canadian Telecommunications Employees' Association, said Friday.
"What we were forced into agreeing to was some of the salary concessions for any new employees."
The 10,000-odd employees work in Central Canada, with between 65 and 70 per cent in Ontario and the rest in Quebec. Many work in call centres and in voice-over-Internet technology.
The Ontario workers are based in various communities, including Ottawa, London, Toronto, Kitchener, Hamilton and Kingston.
The deal, ratified by 65.4 per cent of the 72.5 per cent of eligible employees who voted, takes effect Monday and expires May 31, 2009.
Knight said a restructuring of the salary structure means a wage freeze for the 42 per cent of employees whose pay rate is higher than that of their new salary group. They will each receive lump-sum payments of $500 annually.
Other employees will receive annual salary increases of 2.8 per cent in 2005 and 2006 and three per cent in 2007 and 2008.
Knight said the hourly wage will range from $17.48 to $27.76 after this year's hike kicks in.
Bell Canada (TSX:BCE) said it is "very pleased" with the deal, replacing a contract which expired May 31.
"This agreement provides employees with a stable working environment and the company with the cost structure needed to deliver quality service and value to our customers," said spokeswoman Mary-Ann Bell.
"It also demonstrates that Bell management and employees are committed to working together to succeed in a highly competitive market."
Knight acknowledged that employees were not thrilled with the agreement.
"I would say the members aren't happy," she said. "I don't think that vote is reflective of them saying we're totally satisfied."
She added: "I think that was extremely tough, extremely tough for people, in light of what's happening outside. . . . We're in a tough market right now."