[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] November 30, 2004

[bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net]

November 30, 2004

Olympic Rings Must Include Pay Equity

Vancouver - Delegates to the B.C. Federation of Labour's 48th Convention today passed an emergency resolution calling on members of Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics Committee (VANOC) to demand pay equity for about 5,000 current and former Bell Canada operators who are owed up to $500 million in back pay.

Bell Canada, which bills itself as "a great Canadian company", announced in October it had been awarded a $200 million sponsorship that includes the provision of telecommunications services to Olympic venues.

"This company's record on paying women fairly is bad enough," said B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Angela Schira. "But we're absolutely appalled they are deploying tactics to deny thousands of women equal pay for work they've already performed."

Bell fully committed to a pay equity plan over a decade ago, but has since reneged and is stalling on settling the claim. The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP), the union representing the women, has taken the case before the Human Rights Tribunal, but hearing dates are scheduled well into 2005.

"They've got hundreds of millions for an army of lawyers and millions more to sponsor sporting events and buildings like the Montreal Forum, but they can't pay us what we're owed," said Monique Martin, an operator from Quebec.

"Bell has paid $200 million for the 2010 Olympic contract," said Rocklee Johns, a former Bell Canada operator involved in the case. "I've been waiting 12 years - that's my money."

"The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee has to show they're committed to pay equity," said CEP Western Region Vice President Dave Coles. "VANOC has been busy defending their Olympic rings brand, which is really about integrity and fairness. Now it's time to put their money where their mouth is and ensure their sponsors do the same."

The emergency resolution also commits Federation affiliates to full support for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' demand that Bell Canada immediately negotiate a fair pay equity settlement.

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For more information contact: Jessie Uppal, 604-220-0739, B.C. Federation of Labour 

						Dave Coles, 604-240-7284, Vice President, Western Region, Communications, Energy & Paperworkers' Union 

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