June 16, 2021 - It has long been a Union principle to make sure that price inflation does not eat away at workers’ wages. This is why Unions, including USW Local 1944, attempt to put “Cost of Living Allowance” (COLA) clauses into Collective Agreements, to trigger wage increases when inflation reaches a certain level.

On June 16, 2021, Statistics Canada reported the Consumer Price Index had increased 3.6% from May 2020 to May 2021, and as such, this has triggered the COLA clause in our Collective Agreement with Telus.

Article 24 states, in part:

24.01 If the May 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeds the CPI for May 2020 by more than 3.0%, the following wage schedules and basic hourly rates of pay in effect on January 1, 2021

●         all wage schedules in Appendices A and C;

●         Wage Schedule 1A in Attachment B-4 of Appendix B; and

●         with the exception of those employees whose basic hourly rate of pay exceeds the maximum rate for their job title, the basic hourly rate of pay for employees on all wage schedules in Attachment B-2 and Wage Schedules 1B to 6 in Attachment B-4 of Appendix B

will be increased effective July 1, 2021 by a percentage figure equal to the difference

between:

(a)  the percentage by which the May 2021 CPI exceeds the May 2020 CPI

and

(b)  3.0%.

to a maximum of 1.0%.

The calculation for this COLA wage increase is 0.6%. Increases should be effective from July 1, 2021 so please ensure your pay has increased accordingly. If it has not please contact your manager and cc your Local Union Rep.

With Solidarity comes better Collective Agreement language, and with better Collective Agreement language comes better pay and benefits for you and your family.

In Solidarity,

USW Local 1944