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Unifor 1996-O Scholarships – Deadline Approaching

REMINDER: The deadline is fast approaching to get your application submitted by August 31 2017

We in Local 1996-O are concerned about the lives of our members’ families and their education.  Due to high tuition fees we recognize that post-secondary education is out of reach for many working-class. To assist, we’ve established 2 scholarships worth $1,000.00 each. One in memory of the late Brother, Milos Petrasinovic and Brother, Alwa Marcelle.

The scholarships are awarded to sons/daughters of Unifor 1996-O members in good standing.  Students must be entering their first year of full-time post-secondary education (university, community college, technological institute, trade school, etc.) in a public Canadian institution. 

These are entrance Scholarships only and are not renewable for students entering subsequent years of study.

Deadline for submitting an application is August 31 2017

The selection of candidates will be September 11 2017 and will be final.

Click here to download the 2017 application.

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Tentative Agreement – BTS Technician Hires MOA – 2017

Many 1996-O BTS Members have seen job postings this summer in regards to the 100 jobs for BTS technicians to apply for at Bell Canada. See the below attached Tentative Memorandum of Agreement between Bell Canada and Unifor.

 

 

BTS TECHNICIAN HIRING
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BELL CANADA
AND
UNIFOR
REPRESENTING CRAFT AND SERVICES EMPLOYEES

The Company will hire 100 BTS employees to perform functions associated to, but not limited
to, Bell Total Connect, Fibre To The Business (FTTB), Fibre To The Node (FTTN), and
Business FibeTV on FTTN. The Company estimates that these hires will bring the bargaining
unit to more than 4,000 Unifor-represented Craft and Services employees and would increase
the proportion of business work performed by bargaining unit employees from 78% to 87%
based on today’s volumes.

The parties agree as follows:

1. Bell Canada will hire 100 BTS employees to perform functions associated to, but not limited
to, Bell Total Connect, Fibre To The Business (FTTB), Fibre To The Node (FTTN), and
Business F1beTV on FTTN;

2. In assuming capacity of aforementioned business volume, Bell Canada will fill 100 Craft and
Services Regular Full-Time postings, of which 57 postings will be designated for Ontario and
43 for Québec;

Continue reading click here…

 

 

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$15 minimum wage

Pres Messsage

Sisters and brothers,

Over the past few weeks we have heard much debate over the proposed implementation of a $15 dollar an hour minimum wage in Ontario. The truth is that $15 dollars an hour will not only help workers and their families it will also help the economy.

Let’s examine the facts. Almost 30 per cent of Ontario workers earned less than $15 an hour in 2016. It’s important to note that we aren’t just talking about students as half of the workers who earn less than $15 per hour are between the ages of 25 and 64.

Many of our neighbours, friends, family and fellow members are struggling to make ends meet on the current minimum wage of $11.40 an hour. Even with an increase to $15 dollars an hour full-time workers will average $600 a week before tax – hardly an outrageous sum to raise a family on.

The economic case proves that putting money in the hands of workers will help to raise the bar for everyone. Many economists have come out in support of $15 dollars an hour as research has shown that when lower income households achieve a rise in income they spend the additional money earned, predominantly within the local economy.  When the minimum wage is increased the economy benefits and the subsequent consumer demand creates jobs.

The $15 minimum wage is also a racial and women’s rights issue as these workers are disproportionally represented among minimum wage earners. Providing a living wage is a necessary step towards achieving our goal of equality for all.

In opposition to a $15 minimum multi-million dollar corporations are crying poor and raising the specter of job cuts and atomization to frighten workers and politicians alike. At least half of the minimum wage earners in Ontario work for companies with over 500 employees. In fact, many of the largest and wealthiest companies in the country do not pay their workers a living wage.

A $15 minimum will require some adjusting – just as every other minimum wage hike in history has required. During this time we cannot allow companies to pit worker against worker.  Keeping the lowest paid down does not help others to rise but instead furthers the gig-economy, increasing precarious work and creating a permanent underclass of working poor all in the name of corporate greed.

Political pressure to water down the proposed legislated pay increase is being applied and we must do the same to ensure its passage.  Let your MPP know that you believe in a living wage here and share messages of support on social media.

For more information visit unifor.org/changingworkplaces.

In Solidarity,

Jerry Dias

National President