[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] August 23, 2005

Tue Aug 23 16:45:40 PDT 2005

E-NEWS

ISSUE #41 - August 23, 2005

In this issue:

1.> CBC workers fight back against CBC plan to 

create two-tiered hiring process 

2.> Telus gears up censorship machine 

3.> Federation and TWU notch up the pressure on 

Telus

++++|++++

CBC WORKERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST CBC PLAN TO CREATE 

TWO-TIERED HIRING PROCESS

Friday, August 19, 2005

In a public relations campaign leading up to the 

decision to lock-out its workers, the CBC repeatedly 

maintained they have been looking for 'minor' 

improvements to help them remain competitive in a 

changing industry. The CBC wants the right to hire 

contract workers - a move they say will provide 

needed flexibility.

But members of the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) say no 

one believes the CBC would take such a major 

step over plans for minor changes in the way the 

Corporation does business.

CBC hosts, producers, camera-operators, sales and 

administrative staff, reporters, editors and other 

members of the Canadian Media Guild were locked-out 

across Canada on August 14.

Since then, the CBC has been filling empty news 

slots with BBC coverage - a move that has angered 

many union supporters both in Canada and Britain and 

two British unions have called for an urgent meeting 

with BBC management to discuss the matter.

No formal talks are currently underway between the 

CBC and the CMG, but chief negotiators for both 

sides remain on stand-by.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT LOCKED-OUT CBC WORKERS

Issued by the Vancouver & District Labour Council 

1) Visit the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) website to 

stay informed of the union's position in the dispute 

and the latest developments. 

Here is the link to their English web site:

< http://www.cmg.ca/cbcbranchnegsupdatesn.asp >

2) Pass a resolution in your local organization 

supporting Canadian Media Guild workers locked out 

by CBC management. Endorse permanent jobs for CBC 

employees not temporary "contract" employmentt as 

sought by CBC management and forward a copy to the 

CMG.

< mailto:guild at interlog.com >

3) Write a letter to your MP supporting striking CMG 

workers and demanding that CBC management lift this 

lockout and restore quality CBC programming on the 

public airwaves. Make sure to be clear that you are 

a CBC listener/viewer and don't provide an 

inadvertent excuse for the federal gov't or CBC 

management to make any further cuts to the CBC. A 

sample letter can be found on the CMG website.

< http://www.cmg.ca/cbcbranchnegsupdatesn.asp >

4) Come to the VDLC Support Picket for locked out 

Telus workers and CBC workers on Thursday, August 

25.

5:30 - 6:00 pm Support picket at Telus building.

Seymour and Georgia St.

6:00 - 6:30 Support picket at CBC building at 

Georgia and 

Hamilton.

5) CBC staff have started a lockout station being 

broadcast on a number of community radio stations.

Even better, CBC UNPLUGGED is now available all day 

every day courtesy of Radio LabourStart. Your 

favourite Radio 1, Radio 2, TV and Newsworld folks 

can be heard online, all the time.

Some of the highlights include Bill Richardson 

explaining why he's "pissed off" by the current 

labour dispute, a thoughtful commentary by national 

radio reporter Curt Petrovich, and musical acts 

include Joe Keithley of DOA.

Also: Ian Hanomansing on the loss of a supper-hour 

newscast, and Tetsuru Shigamatsu on just about 

everything.

Go to:

< http://radio.labourstart.org/ >

for instructions on how to listen.

We even provide a link to internet radio software if 

you need it.

Support the CMG members on the line AND get your CBC 

fix!

Derek Blackadder

LabourStart Canada

< http://www.LabourStart.org >

905-373-1897

Skype me as: dblackadder 

+++|+++

TELUS GEARS UP CENSORSHIP MACHINE

Friday, August 19, 2005

"These guys have got to be kidding," said 

Telecommunications Workers Union president Bruce 

Bell, responding to news that Telus is demanding 

that the TWU's radio ads be taken off the air. 

"Telus used to be in the communications business, 

but now they seem to be gearing up their role as 

censors."

"First they knocked down the Voices for Change 

website on the grounds that they were protecting 

scabs whose photos hhad been posted there. Within 

days it became clear that was a ruse when Telus 

paraded them around the Telus Plaza in Calgary and 

then tried to use them to force a confrontation with 

our people. Then they invited TV cameras into the 

workplace to show them scabbing our work," he 

explained. "So much for 'protecting their 

identities'." 

"Then Telus used its corporate pull to convince some 

radio stations not to run our ads," he continued. 

"When that didn't achieve what they were after, they 

upped the ante and threatened us with legal action 

if we didn't pull our radio ads off the air." 

"We have strong legal precedent protecting what 

we're doing," Bell emphasized. 

"In a 2001 decision in the case of BC Automobile 

Association v. Office and Professional Employees 

International Union, the court made it clear that 

trademark law does not restrict consumer magazines 

from criticizing products or unions from 

caricaturing trademarks of the firms they are 

striking." 

"Clearly, Telus has money to burn on nonsense like 

this," Bell declared. "But unfortunately for them, 

we live in a country where the corporate will is not 

yet law." 

+++|+++

FEDERATION AND TWU NOTCH UP THE PRESSURE ON TELUS

Friday, August 19, 2005

More than four weeks after members of the 

Telecommunications Workers' Union (TWU) were locked 

out by Telus Corporation, the B.C. Federation of 

Labour and TWU have launched radio ads asking 

the public to cancel call features and support 

workers fighting for better customer service and a 

fair contract. 

Speaking to reporters on August 15, BCFL President 

Jim Sinclair said Telus customers who are tired of 

long delays and poor quality of service because of 

job cuts can now take direct action to send Telus a 

message. 

"This advertising campaign will build on our work 

with union members in BC to send Telus a message by 

cancelling their custom phone features," said 

Sinclair. 

"These ads take aim at Telus' Achilles heel - lousy 

customer service". 

Telus is using management personnel from inside and 

outside BC to continue operations. 

"Telus imposed a new agreement on its workers, 

effectively locking them out," said Sinclair. 

"Imposing agreements and relying on scabs won't 

break unions in BC, it'll only hurt 

service levels even more. Telus management doesn't 

get it, but we know Telus customers do."

Peter Massey, Vice-President of TWU, says Telus has 

refused the federal Labour Minister's offer of a 

special mediator.

Telus made profits of $242 million last quarter and 

in 2003-2004, hiked Executive salaries by between 54 

and 300 percent.

The Federation and TWU are coordinating a Labour Day 

rally across from the Telus building (Corner of 

Kingsway & Boundary) on September 5 at 12:00 noon.

For more information, call the B.C. Federation of 

Labour: 604-430-1421.

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