Unifor Local 1996-O

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Movement Update!

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Fighting for Equality – It’s Common Sense

“Your” Movement Update

 

On Sunday, February 28, 2016, Local 1996-O held a special membership meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto to discuss the ‘Fighting for Equality – It’s Common Sense’ campaign.

At the meeting, Local Presidents from the other Bell and BTS locals in the GTA spoke in favour of the campaign.

In the end, over 90% of the 500 members present voted in favour of a motion which authorized the Local executive to build more alliances with other Bell and BTS locals and to continue the fight for equality.

Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Unifor

Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Unifor-5

Since that historic meeting, the Local executive has worked non-stop to build momentum for the campaign.

Here are some of the highlights:

Members from Bell and BTS locals across Ontario – from London, Kitchener, Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, and Peterborough have requested information about building the campaign in their locals.

The largest BTS Local in Quebec has contacted the executive on how to launch the campaign in their region.

The Bell and BTS members from Local 52 in Newmarket voted over 80% in support of the campaign.

The Bell members of Local 27C in Toronto will vote on a motion of support at their next Local meeting in April.

On March 2, Local 1996-O President Sam Snyders got a great reception when he spoke about the campaign to dozens of other Local officers and National Representatives at the Local Union Task Force meeting.

As President Snyders stated at the meeting “Local 1996-O is fighting for equality for BTS workers. We know that it is achievable. It’s common sense”.

Its common sense

Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Unifor-7

Local union task force

Local Union Task Force Attendees.

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LOCAL 1996-O EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS 2016

 

Brothers and Sisters,

Nominations have closed for the 2016 Executive Elections.

The dates of the election are the following:

  • Mail out of ballots will commence from March 8th 2016 to March 9th 2016.
  • Return ballot envelopes must be deposited by way of Canada Post no later than March 20th 2016 2400hrs.
    (Note any return ballot envelopes postmarked after March 21st 2016 will not be accepted or counted.)
    Spoiled ballots are those that do not clearly indicate the person voted for/and or otherwise marked in any way, including if the return envelope has been written/marked on, or tampered with. (There is a detailed explanation insert with the mailed out ballots.)
  • The Election will take place on March 24th 2016.

1996-O, 2016 Election candidates as follows:

President:

  • Sam Snyders
  • Colum Lynn  

Vice President:

  • Lee Zommers
  • Nabil Nassar 

Secretary:

  • Chris Glover
  • Art McCrorie

Treasurer:

  • Brian Lowery
  • Louis Donisi  
  • Janet Quigley

 

In Solidarity,

Local 1996-O

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Special Meeting Report

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Sisters and Brothers of Local 1996-O

On Sunday, February 28, 2016, Local 1996-O held a special meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto to talk about the future.

More than 500 were in attendance at this historic meeting, where they received a report from the Local Executive on the opportunities that exist to make fundamental improvements to our working conditions and to our collective bargaining strength.

Local President Sam Snyders delivered the presentation, based upon a new legal strategy which outlined how we could use the Canada Labour Code to our advantage, and a plan which could greatly improve our working lives.

Guest speakers included the Local Presidents from the other Bell Locals in the GTA– Brother Ray Mortimer from Local 26, Brother Jim White from Local 27C, Brother Doug Dutton from Local 52 and Brother Justin Connelly from Local 25. Together with Local 1996-0, these Local Presidents represent over half of the Bell and BTS technicians in Ontario and Quebec.

All of the Local Presidents spoke in favour of the following motion that was passed by over 90% of the Local 1996-O members in attendance:

“That the Local 1996-O executive continue to build alliances with other Bell and BTS locals and work with Unifor National to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that BTS members obtain the same rights and benefits as all other Bell members, and ensure that Bell and BTS can never again force members to scab against each other providing the majority of BTS locals agree.”

As President Sam Snyders stated at the meeting “We know that equality is achievable. We have a plan and are building a movement for change. It’s common sense”.

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BCE, the best performing telecom stock!

 

In case you missed yesterday’s big financial news, BCE released adjusted Q4 earnings. It looks like they’re outperforming everyone else and the bottom line is healthier than ever:

BCE Inc. (BCE.TO 0.00%) is raising its dividend five percent after fourth-quarter adjusted earnings met expectations and amid what the company’s CFO calls a “very strong” financial foundation.

As Canadians continue to flock to wireless everything, consume media on our phones, watch TV online, etc., BCE and its shareholders are reaping the rewards.

“Bell’s operating momentum and financial foundation going into 2016 are very strong,” said Chief Financial Officer Glen LeBlanc in a statement. “We expect to drive growth in underlying adjusted net earnings and a healthy year-over-year increase in free cash flow.”

With Bell’s continued investment in capital spending programs ($3B last year, likely to stay the same), the future looks clear and bright.

We love BCE. They’re our livelihood. Our Partners. Their success is our success, right? That’s why we approach our work for them with the spirit that we do.

So, naturally, we can expect to benefit in our share of the healthy bottom line, rewards, and increased free cash flow, right? I mean, the only thing that might get in the way would be if that success was to some degree dependent on keeping us down.

“Overall, results show continued resiliency in operations and strong cost control – a BCE management hallmark,” wrote Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi in a note to clients Thursday morning.

I, for one, certainly hope that “strong cost control” isn’t code for “squeezing our unions.”

The Business News Network report sums up what the news means well in both the written post quoted from above and the series of great video interviews with analysts that loops at the top. Everyone is excited about how BCE is growing according to expectations, benefitting from wireless adoption, and BCEs infrastructure profile relative to that of its competitors across Canada.

It’s all good news for BCE. Let’s make sure incoming RBC Chief Executive Officer Gord Nixon, who will be nominated as chairperson of BCE, recognizes us for the role our work plays in BCEs success, instead of reporting profits based on paying us less.

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