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Bell blasted for taking $122M Labour subsidy while boosting dividends

Read the article here at TEKSAVVY

Bell Canada took a beating from members of parliament this week on several fronts, from its decision to cut rural network investment to the inordinate number of customer complaints it receives.

But the biggest item in MPs’ crosshairs was Bell’s confirmation that it has taken $122 million in pandemic-related labour subsidies despite posting strong financial results and boosting dividend payouts to shareholders.

Along with several other big telecom companies in 2020, Bell availed itself of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, a federal program that covers a portion of employees’ salaries in order to keep those workers from being laid off. The company also raised quarterly dividends throughout the year and is expected to again increase its fourth-quarter payout.

Nate Erskine-Smith, Liberal MP for Beaches-East York in Toronto and a member of the standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, was pointed in his questions for Robert Malcolmson, Bell’s chief legal and regulatory officer. Here’s the exchange, with embedded video below:

 

Continue reading click the link above for TekSavvy

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Black History Month – Jean Augustine

Black History Month in Canada

Black History Month is observed across Canada every February. Black History Month in Canada provides an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of peoples of African ancestry (see Black Canadians). It was initiated in Canada by the Ontario Black History Society and introduced to Parliament in December 1995 by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected as a member of Parliament. Black History Month was officially observed across Canada for the first time in February 1996 (see also Black History in Canada).

Unifor  1996-O Recognize:

Jean Augustine

Black History Month Augustine (1)

In Solidarity,

Equity Committee 1996-O,

1996-O Executive

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Unifor echoes the call for positive mental health with a reminder: mental health care is health care

Unifor Statement

Unifor supports the rights of all people to access public mental health care free from barriers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed workers’ lives, from added stress to isolation, grief, and for many, the loss of workplace drug plan coverage.

To mark Bell Let’s Talk Day, Unifor encourages all people in Canada to not only reach out and build connections, but to demand strengthened access to mental health services and prescription drug coverage through our public health care systems.

Those services must be freely accessible for people to get support, free from discrimination, when facing mental illness or crisis.

One out of every five Canadians will experience mental illness in normal times. It is okay to feel out of sorts because of the global COVID-19 crisis. During the pandemic, we must normalize, listen to, and empathize with those experiencing distress. Additionally, we remind those experiencing mental illness to find supports, as limited as they may be, that work for them in order to navigate through this crisis. Now more than ever, we must find community and support one another.

Members can access COVID-19 Mental Health resources online. These resources include four pillars:

  • Mental health and wellness
  • Quarantine and isolation
  • Challenging stigma, prejudice and racism, and
  • Taking action.

The job of promoting mental wellness is up to every single one of us. Through their union workers can support one another as peers, but for sustained medical care we all rely on the same public health care systems.

View statement on our website here.

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Bell Craft Bargaining

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Click here for the full updates

In this round of negotiations, 3520 Unifor members are united by their 24 local unions in Ontario and 8 in Quebec.Bell Craft workers are working together to improve job security and respect at work. Bargaining updates are available from Locals, and will be posted here following internal distribution.

Campaign Update

Information Bulletin #5

1/8/2021 -Sisters and Brothers,

Negotiations with the Company continued this week via Zoom. The Union and the Company have finished exchanging proposals and completed negotiations of the non-monetary demands. Due to the provincial lockdown we will continue to meet via Zoom next week and begin monetary discussions. The Committee will keep you updated as the process unfolds.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

 

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Join Jerry Dias to demand action on long-term care

Members,

The ongoing crisis in Ontario long-term care has led to horrific conditions and the tragic deaths of more than 3,400 residents and at least 11 frontline long-term care workers from COVID-19.

As the cases continue to mount, Ontario Unifor members must raise our collective voices to push the provincial government to act.

Workers from all sectors are asked to support the thousands of Unifor frontline long-term care members and the vulnerable LTC residents that they care for.

You can make a difference this Friday by joining the online protest at 10 a.m., hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition.   

LTC residents account for nearly two-thirds of the province’s total COVID deaths and preventable loss of life is rapidly increasing. In recent days, the death toll has amounted to more than one resident every hour of every day.

Here’s how to join the action on Friday morning. Go to www.facebook.com/ontariohealth to watch and participate in online actions throughout the protest to help Save Our Seniors.

Unifor National President Jerry Dias will call for immediate government action during his live online address, scheduled for 10:09 a.m.

What:                Ontario Health Coalition Save Our Seniors Protest

When:               Friday, January 29, 2021 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where:              www.facebook.com/ontariohealth

Share the message online using #carenotprofits and #SaveOurSeniors hashtags.

In solidarity,

Naureen Rizvi
Ontario Regional Director