TORONTO- Unifor has filed an application with the CIRB claiming that Bell Canada is the rightful employer of technicians and clerical workers at Expertech, insisting that members should be bargaining with Bell Canada.

“What we’re saying is that Expertech is a puppet, owned and controlled wholly by Bell Canada,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We don’t bargain with puppets. Unifor members deserve to sit across the table from their employer, Bell Canada.”

On Tuesday, May 21, Unifor submitted a common employer application for Expertech technicians and clerical workers to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), claiming that Bell Canada is the real employer and not Expertech, consequently, these members ought to be covered by the Bell Canada Craft and Clerical collective agreements.

“This application is one more way that Unifor is defending good jobs in Canada’s telecommunications sector now and for the next generation of workers,” said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. “Bell has tried to sell these workers short by creating Expertech, but our position is that Expertech is Bell Canada, and our members deserve better.”

Bell Canada created and is now the sole owner of Expertech, and has been steadily decreasing the work allocated to members at Expertech. The union has witnessed the absolute control Bell has on Expertech’s contracts, resulting in business decisions that has led to layoffs and displacement of good unionized telecom jobs.

Employees of Bell Canada and Bell subsidiaries have long campaigned against contracting out and other forms of job erosion and will continue to do so.  For current updates about this campaign, visit bellrealtalk.ca.

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.