Bell Aliant job cuts avoided: union
Union urges workers to accept 3-year wage freeze
Last Updated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 | 3:01 PM AT
CBC News
The union representing workers at Bell Aliant said Thursday it has reached a tentative agreement. (John Gushue/CBC)Widespread job cuts at the major telecommunications provider in Atlantic Canada have been avoided with a tentative deal that includes a three-year wage freeze, union officials told their members Thursday.
Bell Aliant had announced two weeks ago it would have to lay off staff, close three of its five contact centres and eliminate benefits for new retirees.
But officials with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union said Thursday that talks with the regional phone carrier appear to have avoided job losses.
"The new agreement, if accepted, will remove the need for the cost-cutting initiatives announced by [Bell Aliant president] Karen Sheriff on July 15," said a statement sent to CEP members.
The CEP said the tentative deal, if approved, will last until Dec. 31, 2014.
The union said the agreement ensures that the five "existing contact centres will remain open for at least the life of the agreement."
The union memo said the tentative agreement includes a previously scheduled 1.75 per cent wage increase for 2011. But, as with an earlier tentative pact that union members rejected, the new deal includes wage freezes for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 "in exchange for the employment security."
A mail-in ratification vote will be organized, the union said, with ballots to be mailed out by Aug. 13. Votes will be counted Sept. 15.
