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Unifor salutes workers for delivering Canadian customer service in a crisis

COVID_Telco(EN)

March 27, 2020

OTTAWA – Unifor members at Bell Canada step up as shutdowns in offshore facilities combined with increased need for assistance cause a spike in calls to customer support agents.

“As millions of Canadians face sudden loss of income, Bell Canada has avoided layoffs and increased employment by bringing customer service calls back to Canada,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor members across the country are stepping into new roles and taking customer service calls, keeping Canadians connected.”

Several overseas call centres are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing customer service calls back to Canada. Since the closure of international call centres, Unifor members in several different certifications have retrained to take customer service calls at home.

“Unifor members are ready to serve business and residential clients through the crisis and in the future,” said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. “Telecom workers right here in Canada are more than capable of delivering the service that Bell customers expect when they need assistance.”

The union remains in constant communication with Bell Canada and all telecommunications employers on solutions to decrease risk and secure safe working conditions for members across the industry during the pandemic.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

Information about the union’s response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/COVID19.

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Unifor commends Trudeau government for moving on more significant wage replacement plan

March 31, 2020

TORONTO – Following weeks of piecemeal announcements, Unifor commends the federal government for expanding eligibility of a 75 per cent wage subsidy to include large and small employers in Canada.

“We have said from day one that no worker should be forced to bear the economic cost of flattening the curve alone. We are completely united as a country in the efforts to slow this virus, and that must include taking care of workers who have lost their income or facing layoff,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Employer groups and unions were united in a call for this wage subsidy for Canada’s workers. Now, as employers await further details and guidance from the federal government, Unifor urges policymakers to follow through with responsible regulations for employers that receive this public benefit. This includes the continuation of benefit programs and pension contributions, limits on executive compensation and shareholder payments, and a commitment to remaining neutral during union certification drives.

“I hope that this is enough for large and small employers to do the right thing, work with the government to keep more of Canada’s workers on payroll, and ensure these public funds are used for the right reasons,” continued Dias. “We must work together to mitigate layoffs wherever possible, easing the burden on E.I. and continuing to deliver essential services.”

Unifor has produced this Fact Sheet on the CERB and has posted revised information about the union’s response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members at unifor.org/COVID19.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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Unifor Message : Bell entry into customer premises

Members entering customer premises….memo

March 27, 2020

Over the course of the last number of days and weeks during the ongoing pandemic, members of your health and safety structures, your bargaining committees and representatives of the national union have all worked diligently to advocate for your safety at work and to keep our members working.

One area that has been continuously evolving is how we advocate for the protection of members entering customer premises.

For days now, we have witnessed other telco companies in Canada move to a complete ban on entering customer homes. Bell has yet to take the same position for what they submit are good reasons. Our members are anxious and have reached out to the union to convey their concerns, which we have conveyed to the company.

According to company estimates, in excess of 70% of jobs can be done without entering the home.

It is our position, given all that is happening in the world, that entering the home should be done on a volunteer basis only. Concerned employees need to work with their manager to convey these concerns.

This position has been conveyed to the company. In discussions with the company we understand a new updated customer premise policy is forthcoming.

We will continue to work with the company on issues as this situation evolves.

 

In solidarity,
Chris MacDonald                               John Caluori
Assistant to the President                Assistant to the Quebec Director

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Ontario fiscal update fails to provide direct financial support to workers affected by COVID-19

March 25, 2020

TORONTO—The fiscal update provided by Ontario Minister of Finance Rod Phillips today failed to enact adequate measures to protect Ontarians from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“As this deadly and costly pandemic unfolds, Ontarians deserved to see far more from their government in today’s update,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Minister Philips spoke at length about protecting the cash flow of businesses but had shockingly little to say about the cash flow of Ontarians and that’s completely unacceptable.”

Unifor has been demanding urgent action from the Ford government, including immediate relief for workers affected by the pandemic or the broader economic effects of the government’s public health response. These measures should include instituting a minimum of 14 paid sick days and establishing direct, emergency income assistance measures. The full recommendations from Unifor are outlined in a letter to the Premier here.

The government announced only small one-time payments for families with children and limited other measures to offer minor relief with utility costs and student loans. With record-numbers of layoffs and Employment Insurance claims in recent days, the federal government and other provincial jurisdictions are providing greater direct support measures than the government of Ontario.

Minister Philips also announced a $3.3 billion funding increase as part of the government’s health care response to COVID-19. While greater detail is needed on the government’s planned deployment of the funding in the short-term, health care workers must see a more substantial investment to address chronic, long-term underfunding of health care in Ontario, with a clear plan to reopen and staff shuttered hospital beds.

“Today’s announcement leaves countless thousands of Ontarians out of what should have been the most ambitious and substantive direct income assistance plan we’ve seen in generations,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor’s Ontario Regional Director. “Instead, this government is failing in its responsibility to provide direct emergency relief to Ontario workers, as so many other provinces and countries have already done.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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Ottawa has stalled too long on EI reform, new action needed

March 23, 2020

TORONTO – Unifor is calling on MPs to use the special Tuesday Parliamentary session to move quickly on reform and pass emergency measures to ensure all workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have a reliable, decent paycheque.

“We are facing a crisis of catastrophic proportions that requires fast action from government. Despite promising first steps, federal progress on worker supports has stalled and I’m afraid our opportunity for quick action may have passed,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Unifor is calling on Parliament to pass emergency measures on Tuesday to expedite the delivery of paycheques to displaced working families, through whatever means necessary, including via existing employer payroll systems or direct payments to households.

“Canada’s workers were feeling the squeeze before they were forced out of a job by this pandemic. Without a dramatic change of tack, in a few more days laid-off workers will be left with empty cupboards and bare dinner tables,” said Dias.

In December of last year, a survey by MNP found that nearly half of Canadians were $200 or less away from financial insolvency. Federal funding announcements to date have not addressed the immediate need of Canadian families to cover necessities.

Two-thirds of the of the federal support package announced by government on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 is not income support but will instead be delivered in tax deferrals to business and individuals, while new income support programs for those who do not qualify for E.I. will take weeks to even begin accepting applications.

“Last week, more than 500,000 individual E.I. claims were filed and there is no reason to expect that number to slow down,” said Lana Payne, Unifor Secretary-Treasurer. “Millions more will have their work interrupted by this pandemic. The E.I. system, once overwhelmed, is now completely under water.”

Canada sits on the lower end of the spectrum as governments around the world such as New Zealand, Sweden, and America have already pledged four to six per cent of GDP towards immediate fiscal support. Canada should consider adopting creative solutions as the UK has done in pledging income replacement to be paid out to businesses that keep employees on payroll instead of forcing layoffs.

“Members of Parliament need to be prepared to make an immediate decision about how they plan to fund income replacement for Canada’s workers tomorrow. If the E.I. system cannot handle these claims in a timely way, an immediate alternative is needed to ensure hardworking Canadian families do not fall into financial ruin,” continued Dias.

Information about the union’s response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/COVID19.