British Columbia

Acting President’s Message: The Local holds Telus accountable for the coding issues

January 22, 2021 - Thank you everyone for exercising patience as I try to work through the Holiday coding issues with Telus (see previous Acting President’s Message here). They are firm in their position that they made an honest mistake and that they corrected that mistake by applying the language of the collective agreement.

Telus’ Ergonomic and Internet Subsidies are not enough

January 18, 2021 - By now, you may have seen management’s January 14th email announcing Telus’ Ergonomic Subsidy and Internet Subsidy for those who qualify to enter the “At Home Agent Evolution” program in Q2.

2021 USW National Aboriginal Committee Connecting Circles

January 13, 2021 - From January to May 2021, the USW National Aboriginal Committee will be hosting an online series of “Connecting Circles”, with the goal of advancing Indigenous rights in our workplaces and in society.

The Connecting Circles series will be comprised of 4 one-hour Zoom meetings scheduled as follows:

Thank you for participating in the 2021 USW / Telus Bargaining Survey

January 11, 2021 - Thanks to all of you who completed the 2021 USW / Telus Bargaining Survey. There was massive participation, more than double what we have seen for any other survey conducted in the past several years! In particular, we heard a lot of feedback that members appreciated the depth of questions about your work experience and bargaining priorities, and the many opportunities to provide open-ended feedback.

Acting President’s message: The Local is currently working on solving miscoding issues with Telus

January 8, 2021 - To those affected by the coding issues regarding the statutory holidays of the Christmas break, I have been in constant contact with the Acting Director of Telus Labour Relations since Christmas Eve day. I am grateful for the many members who have flagged this as an issue and for all of the emails I have received. I am acutely aware of your frustration and the disruption in your lives that this has caused. This is why since December 24th, the Acting Director and myself have been working on this very important issue.

Shaw Abbotsford Bargaining Update #10 - January 7, 2021

January 7, 2021 - As was communicated on December 11, 2020 after the Shaw Bargaining Committee walked away from negotiations, Shaw submitted an application for conciliation to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services department. 

Local 1944’s Local Union Delegated Meeting

December 23, 2020 - The Executive Board held an emergency meeting this past Saturday December 19, 2020 to deliberate on a recommendation brought forward by Administrator Omero Landi to postpone our Local Union Delegated Meeting until the fall. After a thorough discussion on the recommendation, a motion was put forward to postpone our Local Union Delegated meeting originally scheduled for March 16, 17 and 18, 2021 to the fall of 2021. With Acting President Donna Hokiro in the chair, the Executive Board voted its unanimous consent to the motion.

December 1944@Work: Let’s stay connected to create the needed change

December 23, 2020 - Acting President Donna Hokiro reflects on the past year and reminds us that we need to stay connected if we want to be able to create the needed change. The fight continues for Unit 60 Abbotsford members as Shaw doesn’t want to share a dime of its profits. Please use the hashtag #NoFear on social media to show your support.

Administrator’s Announcement: Changes to the Executive Board

December 22, 2020 - In September, Brooke Downey resigned as Ontario’s Regional Executive Officer and her position has been left vacant since that time. Michelle Ravary, already serving on our Executive Board as Trustee, has now been appointed to that position, leaving her position of Trustee vacant.

I am pleased to announce that Natasha Aodan has accepted her appointment to this role, joining the Executive Board as Trustee. Natasha is a USW Leadership Development Scholarship student as well as a member of 1944’s Women of Steel Committee, a PUMA Unit prime and is Chair of Unit 502.

Shaw Abbotsford Bargaining Update #9 - December 11, 2020

December 11, 2020 - Your bargaining team is fighting for your future, in spite of your employer. Shaw DOES NOT want a deal. Off to conciliation AGAIN, just like the last few rounds of bargaining with this employer.