United Steelworkers: Telus workers prepare for potential job action

BURNABY, British Columbia — On Sunday, Jan. 15, hundreds of Telus workers, members of the United Steelworkers union (USW), gathered outside the Telus Mobility building in Burnaby and other Telus locations across Canada for a solidarity rally and picket training in preparation for potential escalating job action.

The workers have been bargaining with Telus for over 14 months and have not reached a tentative agreement supported by the union.

“Telus will not move off massive and unnecessary concessions they brought to the table,” said Donna Hokiro, USW Local 1944 President. “After months of bargaining, we tried to reach a deal through the federal conciliation process, but before Christmas, Telus made a unilateral decision to halt bargaining and walked away from the table.”

During federal conciliation, the union’s bargaining committee presented Telus with a revised offer that showed a willingness to work with the company on many of its key issues. Telus rejected the proposal and chose to take their offer directly to the membership for ratification.

“It’s absurd that Telus has chosen to go directly to the membership bypassing our bargaining committee. What Telus is presenting is not a fair, just or equitable deal, and our members are worth and deserve more than this offer. We are recommending our members vote ‘no’ to this unfair offer that goes against and undermines the collective bargaining process,” said Hokiro.