The National Unemployment Clock comes to rest in Vancouver today where it will be erected on a billboard at 11:00 a.m. near the corner of Quebec and Terminal streets.

The National Awareness Campaign, launched May 6, 2009, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, was developed to raise awareness across Canada about the dangers of allowing large international corporations - such as TELUS - to continue to offshore Canadian jobs. In one short month since the campaign began, we have heard testimonials from concerned people and amassed thousands of petition signatures. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to sign on, we encourage you to visit the campaign web sit at www.keepjobsincanada.ca and add your voice or simply view the hundreds of pictures and video testimonials from the campaign.

The Unemployment clock has found a home in Vancouver and the message lives on: Offshoring must be stopped. Hard working Canadians are losing their jobs at an alarming rate with over 1.6 million unemployed. Offshoring is a problem that affects all Canadians. When a member of your community loses his or her job, everyone loses. Awareness encourages action. Now is the time to take action. Speak up!

Most recently, TELUS announced that it was offshoring jobs to Guatemala. The Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) members continue to be offered Voluntary Separation Packages as part of TELUS' insidious plans to increase offshoring. TWU represents over 14, 000 workers at TELUS and it is our mission to get their voices heard.

By ignoring this problem, Parliament is placing a burden on social programs, consumer confidence, and the well-being of our communities. Government must enact legislation that will hold large corporations accountable for offshoring activities. We need to speak out and let these corporations and the government know that enough is enough! We will deliver all of the petition signatures to Ottawa and call on the Government to protect Canadian jobs and communities. Corporations like TELUS should be protecting jobs in our communities across the country.

Countless Canadians, including members of other unions and non union workers, have been devastated by offshoring activities. The Keep Jobs in Canada campaign includes their voice as well. Together, we can make a difference! Join us if you can. Video and pictures of the tour will be up on the TWU site and www.keepjobsincanada.ca .

On behalf of the TWU, I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and support throughout the campaign and beyond. We encourage everyone to visit the TWU Web site daily (www.twu-stt.ca), read the Hotline, Transmitter and bulletins, attend local meetings, and call your local shop steward.

In Solidarity,
George Doubt,
TWU National President