The Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) Bargaining Committee continues to meet with Telus as we move forward in the process of negotiating a revised Collective Agreement.

  The TWU Bargaining Committee is comprised of President George Doubt, Business Agents, Colin Brehaut, Lee Riggs and Maria Zonni, and Bargaining Unit members from across the country, Jennifer Bucholtz, Allan Haggstrom, Harmony Jackson, Jacqueline Straw, Lance Trevison and Dave Turcotte. The Committee has completed the first pass through the existing Collective Agreement and is well into the second pass.

There are many issues that the Bargaining Committee must consider such as:
•    The Union’s bargaining strength and solidarity
•    Business trends and the overall economic climate
•    The political environment in which we are attempting to get an agreement
•    Upcoming reorganizations or downsizing
•    What other unions in similar industries are achieving and the length of disputes they may have faced
•    Past proposals from the company and what is likely to be on the table this round.
•    The company’s financial health
•    The cost of the proposals – both the Union’s and the company’s
•    Upcoming mergers, takeovers or new technologies that might affect the Bargaining Unit
•    The cost of a labour dispute for both the company and the Bargaining Unit

Your Bargaining Committee is meeting this week to prepare for the resumption of face-to-face sessions with Telus on November 9th. The Bargaining Committee has decided in order to facilitate open and frank discussions with Telus at the bargaining table, it is best to refrain from releasing details pertaining to the proposals at this time. This is a common negotiating strategy and is used to prevent bargaining in the media, on the shop floor as well as discouraging speculation by members and management.  We understand that members are curious about the bargaining process and thank them for their patience and support as we move forward in achieving a successful round of negotiations.

The Bargaining Committee and Telus will resume meeting on November 9th and scheduled to meet three days per week until December 10th.

There is only one way to succeed – Standing together!