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Black History Month 2022 statement

 

For Unifor, Black History Month isn’t an event we only acknowledge in February.

This year, Canada recognizes Black History Month as February and Forever: Celebrating Black History Today and Every Day.

The Canadian government first recognized Black History Month in December 1995 in the House of Commons, following a motion introduced by the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine.

Unifor has long been advocating that it is vital to acknowledge and recognize Black members everyday.

As a union, we featured Black members from locals for the past few years and allowed the different regions to see the remarkable leadership within our union.

We are committed to more than statements and more than a month of solidarity. We know that Black Canadians have made tremendous contributions and possess the skills, talents, intelligence, innovation and determination to have meaningful impacts within Unifor, across Canada and throughout the world.

It is our daily choices and actions that matter.

This month, we ask our local unions and workplace union representatives to celebrate Black Unifor members and safely support community events.

We also ask them to recognize Black Unifor members, not only in February, but each day of the year, in order to combat anti-Black racism and to continue to remove barriers in institutions that prevent Black members from fully participating.

We need to ensure physical and emotional health for all Black Canadians and continue to celebrate, appreciate and acknowledge Black communities across the country.

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BCE reports fourth quarter and full-year 2021 results

Source:  BCE Media Releases
  • Q4 consolidated adjusted EBITDA1 growth of 1.1% on 3.0% higher service revenue; reached 99% of pre-COVID 2019 revenue and adjusted EBITDA levels in 2021
  • Net earnings of $658 million, down 29.4%, with net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $625 million, or $0.69 per common share down 29.6%; adjusted net earnings1 of $692 million generated adjusted EPS1 of $0.76, down 6.2%
  • Q4 cash flows from operating activities up 6.9% to $1,743 million, driving higher year-over-year free cash flow1 of $236 million
  • Leading wireless financial results with service revenue growth of 6.3%, 5.3% higher adjusted EBITDA and 3.3% increase in mobile phone blended ARPU2 as we welcomed 109,726 new net mobile phone subscriber activations, up 77.8%
  • Best annual retail residential net subscriber performance in 10 years; 47,618 total retail Internet net activations, up 7.0%; IPTV net activations increased 38.3% to 29,191
  • Bell Media digital revenue3 up 36%, contributing to 7.3% total media revenue growth
  • Surpassed upsized 2021 network expansion targets, delivering approximately 1.1 million new direct fibre and Wireless Home Internet (WHI) locations and mobile 5G to more than 70% of Canadians; WHI buildout completed with 1 million households reached one year earlier than plan

 

Read the full article click the link above

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Bell expands pure fibre Internet access to Georgina

Source:  BCE Media Releases

High-speed Internet services will reach approximately 14,000 homes and businesses in Georgina

GEORGINA, ON, February 10, 2022 – Bell today announced the expansion of pure fibre Internet service to homes and businesses in the community of Georgina. Part of Bell’s capital expenditure acceleration program for investment in national next-generation network infrastructure, the expansion program will bring all-fibre broadband access to approximately 14,000 locations in Georgina by 2024.

Fully funded by Bell, this broadband expansion program will provide fast and high-capacity 100% fibre connections with Internet download speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps and access to leading Bell services such as Fibe TV. Last year, Bell announced an investment of $1.7 billion in capital expenditures over two years to accelerate the rollout of its broadband fibre, 5G and rural networks and help drive Canada’s recovery from the COVID crisis.

This capital acceleration is in addition to the approximately $4 billion in capital expenditures Bell typically invests in broadband network infrastructure and expansion each year, and will significantly increase the connections in localities across Canada while creating additional employment as network construction activity speeds up.

“Affordable, reliable, internet plays such a critical role in our lives today. It gives residents many options when it comes to education, running a business or working from home, which many companies have shifted to. We need to position Georgina for future demands, and staying resilient to the many changes. When competing with other communities to attract companies and residents, we know that high-speed internet can often be a deciding factor, and I am glad that residents have options when making that decision.”

 

Continue reading click the source link

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Members phone Premier Ford to demand Ontario sign federal child care deal

 

On February 3, 2022, members across Ontario participated in a Day of Action to urge provincial Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and Premier Ford to sign the federal child care plan that promises more than $30 billion in funding to create accessible, affordable, quality child care nationwide.

“Unifor members are frustrated that Ontario is the last province to sign the child care deal,” said Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director. “During our mass call-in on the Day of Action, we shared our child care stories directly with the MPPs and talked about the huge costs associated with an often very necessary expense. Ontario families need the support the federal program offers and Premier Ford needs to stop waiting and just get the deal done.”

There is added pressure for Ontario to secure the deal before the end of the federal fiscal year on March 31, 2022.

“If Premier Ford does not sign the deal before the end of March, Ontario will lose the first year of funding – $1.2 billion!” said Tracey Ramsey, Unifor Women’s Director. “Universal child care programs have proven to more than pay for themselves through increased workforce participation, particularly by women, and through increased productivity. Women have been advocating for child care for decades and now it’s within reach – we just need the Premier to make it happen.”

Did you miss the Day of Action but are still interested in advocating for child care in Ontario? Contact your MPP or one of the key government ministers below and tell them why we need accessible, affordable, quality child care now.

Click here for contact information for all Ontario MPPs.

MPP Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Doug Ford @FordNation @fordnationdougford Fb.com/fordnationdougford
Stephen Lecce @Sflecce @slecce Fb.com/stephenleccempp
Monte McNaughton @MonteMcNaughton @montemcnaughton Fb.com/montmcnaughtonmpp
Peter Bethlenfalvy @Pbethlenfalvy @peterbethlenfalvy Fb.com/peterbethlenfalvympp
Donna Skelly @skellyhamilton @donnaskellympp Fb.com/donnaskellympp