To:	All Employees at Bell Technical Solutions
From:	The Human Resources Team
Subject:	Government deduction modifications
Hello everyone, We would like to inform you that the federal and provincial governments modified the annual CPP and EI (QPP and QPIP in Québec) contributions for 2019.  These changes were applied to your first pay in 2019, which was deposited on January 11. As per legislation, BTS must deduct taxes and government deductions from employees’ pays until they have reached the yearly maximum. Tax calculations are based on your province of work. Maximum deductions for 2018 and 2019   Plan Contribution rate (of annual earnings) Maximum contribution 2018 2019 2018 2019 I work outside Québec Canada Pension Plan (CPP) 4.95% 5.10% $2,593.80 $2,748.90 Employment Insurance (EI) 1.66% 1.62% $858.22 $860.22 I work in Québec Québec Pension Plan (QPP) 5,40% 5,55% $2,829.60 $2,991.45 Employment Insurance (EI) 1.30% 1.25% $672.10 $663.75 Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) 0.548% 0.526% $405.52 $402.39 If you have any questions, please email us or call us at 1-888-542-3977. The Human Resources Team

Members,

Please take 1 minute right now to save Canadian jobs. Can you take the pledge to Boycott Mexican-Made General Motors vehicles?

If enough Unifor members, friends and families sign the pledge, then we can pressure GM dealerships and management. GM needs to get the message that Canadians will not forgive them for this betrayal.

The closure of the Oshawa Assembly Plant would result in the loss of thousands of Canadian jobs, taking livelihoods away from the very people who bailed GM out when it was facing bankruptcy.

GM believes it is untouchable as it takes advantage of low pay and a lack of human and labour rights in Mexico while it tramples Canadian workers and communities.

Let GM and your local dealerships know that you pledge to boycott Mexican-made GM vehicles, unless they reverse their decision and Save Oshawa GM.

Already taken the pledge? Share the link with your friends and tell them why supporting Canadian auto jobs is important to you.

Need more information? Read why and how to support the pledge to boycott.

Download and share the Union Made Vehicle Purchase Guide.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias
Unifor National President

Dear members:

When we convened for the Ontario Regional Council in December, we were on the heels of one of the Ford Government’s first attacks on workers. We met just as Bill 47 had been adopted, cancelling many of the beneficial changes to minimum wage and employment standards that were previously enacted.

I write to you today because that same government has made announcements that once again, threaten equity and a core belief of the union, that education should be accessible to all without barriers. 

On January 17, Minister Merrilee Fullerton announced a series of changes to post-secondary education policy including;

• a funding cut to colleges and universities,
• the elimination of the 6-month grace period for loan repayment, and
• the ability for students to opt-out of so-called “non-essential” non-tuition fees.

This is an obvious case of the provincial government attempting to weaken public post-secondary education and eliminate the opposition in one fell swoop.

The non-essential fees that Ford is targeting include dues to students’ unions. Students’ unions are independent, democratic organizations in Ontario. They deliver vital services and advocacy to members all across the province.

Unifor has a long history of supporting student organizing in Ontario, in Canada, and around the world. Students’ issues are workers’ issues.

In the labour movement, we are all too familiar with the right wing’s twisted language when they talk about “right-to-work” laws. When a union bargains gains for the entire workplace, everyone benefits and everyone pays dues. That’s the principle that underlies the strength and structure of our labour movement.

When students democratically vote in favour of pooling their resources to provide important student-run services on campus, everyone benefits and everyone pays dues. It is this very principle that is being attacked in the latest Ford government announcement.

Not only is Doug Ford making education less accessible for students in Ontario, he is also taking a stab at the only organized force that has ever opposed tuition fee increases and fought for education as a right.

In the weeks ahead, we will be working with our allies from the Canadian Federation of Students to support students in their fight against these devastating changes. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to recognize what’s at stake in this fight: I believe that if the Ford government succeeds in their attack on the student movement, that they will take aim at trade unions as well.

I encourage all members to reach out to students’ unions and to join in the growing resistance, including participating in actions planned in upcoming weeks.

For more information, please see the attached backgrounder.

In solidarity,

Naureen Rizvi
Ontario Regional Director