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
In case you missed yesterday’s big financial news, BCE released adjusted Q4 earnings. It looks like they’re outperforming everyone else and the bottom line is healthier than ever:
BCE Inc. (BCE.TO 0.00%) is raising its dividend five percent after fourth-quarter adjusted earnings met expectations and amid what the company’s CFO calls a “very strong” financial foundation.
As Canadians continue to flock to wireless everything, consume media on our phones, watch TV online, etc., BCE and its shareholders are reaping the rewards.
“Bell’s operating momentum and financial foundation going into 2016 are very strong,” said Chief Financial Officer Glen LeBlanc in a statement. “We expect to drive growth in underlying adjusted net earnings and a healthy year-over-year increase in free cash flow.”
With Bell’s continued investment in capital spending programs ($3B last year, likely to stay the same), the future looks clear and bright.
We love BCE. They’re our livelihood. Our Partners. Their success is our success, right? That’s why we approach our work for them with the spirit that we do.
So, naturally, we can expect to benefit in our share of the healthy bottom line, rewards, and increased free cash flow, right? I mean, the only thing that might get in the way would be if that success was to some degree dependent on keeping us down.
“Overall, results show continued resiliency in operations and strong cost control – a BCE management hallmark,” wrote Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi in a note to clients Thursday morning.
I, for one, certainly hope that “strong cost control” isn’t code for “squeezing our unions.”
The Business News Network report sums up what the news means well in both the written post quoted from above and the series of great video interviews with analysts that loops at the top. Everyone is excited about how BCE is growing according to expectations, benefitting from wireless adoption, and BCEs infrastructure profile relative to that of its competitors across Canada.
It’s all good news for BCE. Let’s make sure incoming RBC Chief Executive Officer Gord Nixon, who will be nominated as chairperson of BCE, recognizes us for the role our work plays in BCEs success, instead of reporting profits based on paying us less.
Your time is valuable. You know that. We know that. And the team at the Local 1996-O office make every effort we can for Bell to realize it. Your opinions are also very valuable. The membership meetings are an opportunity for us to see the strength of our numbers and to glean the collective wisdom of our crowd.
With your engagement and participation at the local level, we will share committee updates and Executive reports. We will listen to you, and it will inform how we structure our agenda to collectively act. How we move forward together. We must build a strong solidarity and be ready to act.
We ask that you participate and have your voice heard at the following Local Membership meetings:
Tuesday March 29, 2016
7:30-9:00
Grand Prix Kartways
75 Carl Hall Rd.
Toronto, M3K-2B9
Tuesday June 28, 2016
7:30-9:00
RCL
9 Dawes Rd.
Toronto, M4C-5A8
Sunday Sept 18, 2016
7:30-9:00
Local 252
1343 Matheson Blvd E.
Miss, L4W-1R1
Friday December 9, 2016
7:30-9:00
RCL
9 Dawes Rd.
Toronto, M4C-5A8
The dates and locations for this years meetings have been chosen to to make it easier for more of us to attend. We’ve spread the meeting locations out, and we’ve included two weekend meeting dates.
In Solidarity,
Sam
Sam Snyders
President, Local 1996-O
416 Health and Safety Co-Chair
Unifor Chairperson Workers with Disabilities
LRC Committee and JSDC Committee
Ont. Bargaining Rep
Telecommunications Industry Council Representative
Office 416-237-1996 cell 416-839-8151
samdances@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.
Twitter : https://twitter.com/
We all need food to live. Unfortunately, with the cost of food increasing it is getting hard for many to buy all that they need.
Our trip to St. Francis Table serving meals last month was as rewarding as it is every year. It would be nice to be able to volunteer more often. It would also be nice drop off at the nearby food bank.
(http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/literally-psyched/the-psychology-behind-gift-giving-and-generosity/). Unfortunately, our realities don’t make it possible for each of us as individuals enjoy the benefits of giving.
The good news is that being a member of this Union does.
Local 1996-O has donated food and $5,000 to the Daily Bread Food Bank. We also enjoyed the privilege of bringing a $3,000 cheque to FoodShare on your behalf. It will go to programs that feed belly’s and minds of children in schools across the GTA.
Sam dropping off food and a cheque at the Daily Bread Food Bank
This money comes from Unifor’s Social Justice Fund. Unifor National is donating $135,000 to 46 different food banks across Canada.
“Cash donations help food banks fill in the blanks to their all important food donations, to make sure the families using the food banks can have a balanced diet.” Mohamad Alsadi, Director of Unifor Nationals Human Rights and International Department.
There are many reasons people need the support of FoodBanks. The cost of living is a big one. With the Loonie at a thirteen year low, food prices are only going to continue to climb over the next year.
Together we can make a real difference in the lives of people in need. And together we can make a difference in the lives of our fellow workers.
When it comes right down to it, there’s not a lot we can’t do when we work as a team.
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.
