Brothers and Sisters,

We wish to address the misinformation circulating in regard to our fight for equality. It is unfortunate during this time of strife between the Union and the company that some individuals have chosen to publicly air their disagreements without first addressing the Local 1996-O Executive directly.

Our recent update mentioned that members from other Bell and BTS locals have contacted us requesting information about our common sense campaign. This is a fact! And why wouldn’t they? Wanting to know how to secure additional rights and benefits is what any member should want.

In response, we have directed them to seek answers from their own local representatives as all Ontario Communications Council (OCC) delegates have access to the same information as members of Local 1996-O.

Last November, the same OCC delegates voted in favour of a proposal for the GTA Presidents to take our plan of action to Jerry Dias, President of Unifor, based on a legal opinion obtained by Local 1996-O.  During the council, we were asked whether we had membership support…

So what did we do?

We brought the same presentation to you, our members, and an astonishing 91% of you voted in support of this mission for fairness and equality.

Our members gave us their direction and this local executive is going to do exactly what the membership has asked:  we are going to continue to spread awareness of this new legal opinion and advance our fight for equality.

To stay with the status quo (as certain individuals suggest), should not be an option.  Are there associated risks?  Of course.  But doing nothing is an even bigger risk.

We all know that there are already 1,200 contractors out there doing our work.  What happens when there are three times as many contractors in 2018, PLUS Bell technicians who will be forced to scab our work?

High wages? Don’t think so.  More benefits?  Doubt it.  More hours?  Not likely.  Layoffs?  Most definitely.

What do we have to lose by trying to gain more leverage now – before we lose everything in 2018?

What has been circulated is simply inaccurate. It only serves to slow down the momentum of our fight for fairness and equality.  It is a crude attempt to stop progress and spread fear. Local 1996-O and its Executive are not afraid.

In fact, we are proud to represent the members of Local 1996-O in the way that they expect based on a 91% vote in favour of this campaign.  We are pushing this plan of action forward and taking it to Jerry Dias and the National Union.  This Local is fighting for equality.  There are those who believe it isn’t attainable, but that thinking will get us nowhere.  We will not cower in the face of opposition. Do not let fallacies sway you from what you know to be true.

Where do you want to stand come 2018?

Fighting for Equality – It’s Common Sense

 

In Solidarity,

 

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

Brothers and Sisters:

As per the Unifor National Union decision dated on March 17 2015, to be compliant with the decision, Local 1996-O will have Executive elections no later than July 31,2016.

In light of this National Union decision, Nomination forms are now open from March 01 2016 – March 07 2016 24:00hrs.

Please download the Nomination form and follow the instructions provided in the form.

In Solidarity,

Local 1996-O

Whether you use them or not, your health ‘benefits’ as of January 1st are costing you more.

At a Labour Relations meeting in late December with Optimum Consultants and Actuaries, BTS was advised that unionized employees are subject to a 13.9% increase in cost for their health care benefits.

By contrast, Bell employees will not see an increase in the cost of their health benefits; in fact, they will continue to pay nothing for their benefits. That’s right–no deductions on their paycheques for benefits.

A full-time BTS employee has over $1,400 per year deducted from their paycheque for health care benefits. That’s on top of the portion that BTS contributes–over $4,500–for full-timers.

If the money you pay for your benefits were instead deposited into a Tax-Free Savings Account with moderate interest, in ten years’ time you would have over $20,000!

$20,000 isn’t chump change. It’s college tuition. It’s caregiving for parents. A home renovation.

Common sense says this is wrong. We all know that BTS and Bell are one company. Our employer needs to treat us all equally.

But instead of daydreaming about the money we don’t have, let’s plan for the day when we’re equal to our Bell counterparts. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

A full-time BTS employee has over $1,400 per year deducted from their paycheque for health care benefits. That’s on top of the portion that BTS contributes–over $4,500–for full-timers.

If the money you pay for your benefits was instead deposited into a Tax-Free Savings Account with moderate interest, in ten years time you would have over $20,000!

$20,000 isn’t chump change. It’s a college tuition. It’s caregiving for parents. A home renovation.

But instead of daydreaming about the money we don’t have, let’s plan for the day when we’re equal to our Bell counterparts. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.