Economic gains and contracting work into the bargaining unit characterize a new agreement ratified by 64 Unifor members working in a Bell clerical unit in Ontario.

“Local 1996-O’s clerical unit is the nerve centre for many of Bell Technical Solutions’ operations,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I’m proud that they were able to achieve a new collective agreement that reverses job erosion.”

The new four-year agreement includes as much as a two per cent wage increase in each year. The agreement creates new full-time work and guarantees hours for part-time workers. Health premium costs to workers will be reduced under the new contract and Personal Emergency Leave will be protected—something slashed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

“Premier Doug Ford is making work in Ontario less safe and less stable. It was important to our bargaining committee that we do everything we could to protect workers’ rights that are eroding elsewhere,” said Lee Zommers, Local 1996-O President.

In the new contract, Local 1996-O joins dozens of Unifor locals across the country with the inclusion of an employer-sponsored Woman’s Advocate in the workplace.