March 18, 2019 – 12:00 AM

 

March 18, 2019

TORONTO – Unifor members call foul on Bell’s move to slash technicians’ hours across Ontario and Quebec.

Hundreds of Technicians working for Bell are categorized as part-time in name only, regularly working 40-hour weeks for many years. Last week, Bell suddenly changed that, so that technicians across Ontario and Quebec are seeing hours and pay cheques cut in half.

“This cruel tactic boils down to corporate greed. Bell has provided no validation for this reduction in hours,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Bell is leaving Unifor members and their families with half of their regular wages, with no prior warning to find other work.”

For years Bell has eroded the number of jobs done by direct employees, increasing the number of contractors doing work for them both on and off shore.

“Make no mistake, Bell is slashing workers’ hours to first cut costs then contract out to lower paid, non union contractors,” said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. “Our members have mortgages and bills like any other Canadian, How will they be able to plan for the future with Bell suddenly cutting hours that have been steady for many years?”

Unifor will not stand by while Bell continues to erode the quality and number of unionized jobs. These tactics include moving jobs, unfair performance management, outsourcing, and now this new attack on the hours of technicians.

Bell Technicians install and maintain all of bell’s services in businesses and homes across Ontario and Quebec. These members often brave difficult conditions to keep Canadians connected.