We are the United Steelworkers, North America’s largest industrial union. We’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. We proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.
February 6, 2017 - Each year our members are asked to provide feedback and comments in the Telus annual employee engagement survey called Pulsecheck.
Telus believes the survey results obtained provide insight into what's working and what's not at Telus.
A very basic definition of employee engagement is the level of commitment an employee has for their work in an organization.
In 2016, Telus did not achieve the engagement target they were striving for. Instead the scores plummeted.
In December 2016, CEO Darren Entwistle informed employees of the 2016 survey results and that engagement had fallen 11% to 76%.
Individual Telus business units faired much worse than the overall engagement scores and were communicated to employees as:
This pinpoints the worst Telus department for morale as the CSD work group. CSD consists of field technicians which install and repair Telus services (TV, Phone & Internet) in addition to maintaining the Telus outside plant network.
Here are the employee engagement survey results for Telus in 2016. The results show a decrease in almost every category.
Prior to 2016, Telus engagement scores for Domestic employees increased from 53% in 2007 to 87% in 2015.
What is employee engagement according to Telus?
Employee engagement is not about a score; it’s a mindset. Engagement is the manifestation of both the intellectual and emotional state of mind employees have in an organization. Engagement indicates the extent to which an employer has captured the heart of its team members.
Team member engagement is an essential factor in measuring the health of an organization as important as operational performance and the organization’s standing in its industry or sector. Engaged team members are productive, innovative and take ownership of results. http://transformationoffice.telus.com/employee-engagement
February 9, 2017 - As a result of the Merger Agreement, the TWU, USW Local 1944 received a training commitment from the USW to train a contingent of the next generation of leaders.
As part of fulfilling that commitment, District 3 will be hosting two-day training sessions in Edmonton and Burnaby.
March 13-14, 2017 - Edmonton, AB Radisson Hotel Edmonton South, 4440 Gateway Blvd. Edmonton, AB T6H 5C2 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March 30-31, 2017 - Burnaby, BC District 3 Office, 300-3920 Norland Ave, Burnaby, BC V5G 4K7 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Next Generation program is open to Steelworkers in Local 1944 who are 30 years old or younger. The course will look at issues facing young workers in our union, and enable participants to move their issues forward.
These sessions will bring together young Steelworkers from a number of USW locals and will be a great opportunity to connect with activists from across the district.
Spaces in the workshops are limited and Local 1944 will be sending up to 10 members for each training session. If you are a Local 1944 member under 30, living in Alberta or British Columbia and are interested in participating, please fill out the application.
Applications close on Friday, February 17, 2017 at 12:00pm Pacific Time.
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
February 17, 2017 - It has been brought to the attention of the TWU, USW National Local 1944 Health and Safety Committee that Telus has introduced a health and safety initiative (training and forms) referred to as the Job Assessment Risk Review program (JARR).
This program is being introduced to all plant positions in I&R, CR, Construction, and Inside Build. This program has not been consulted on with the Policy Committee as is a requirement of the Canada Labour Code 125(1) (Z.03).
The TWU, USW National Local 1944 Health and Safety Committee is asking that every member who is asked to take the course, and to fill out these forms, advise the manager that this program has not consulted with the Telus National Health and Safety Policy Committee, which is a contravention on the Canada Labour Code.
The union advises members to refrain from signing any documents or training in regards to this safety program until it has been properly consulted on and introduced by the Telus Health and Safety Policy Committee, as this program may change your safety rights as a worker.
The TWU, USW National Local 1944 Health and Safety Committee will notify you when this process has been completed.
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
February 20, 2017 - On February 22 members are encouraged to wear pink as part of the pink shirt day campaign, to take a stand against bullying.
This anti-bullying campaign primarily focuses on the bullying that happens both in the school yard and on social media, but many of our members also experience bullying in the workplace. Recently USW launched the HangUpOnAbuse campaign to shed light on the experiences of our call center workers who are frequently forced to deal with abusive phone calls.
“It’s important to support anyone who is being victimized by bullying,” said USW 1944 National President Lee Riggs. “It is the duty of all of us to ensure that our members are safe in the workplace and to bring awareness to bullying.”
Bullying takes many forms including ostracizing, name calling, rumour spreading, intimidation, physical abuse, and cyber bullying. It erodes the self-esteem of its victims and is a societal stain. It is important to bring awareness to the issue of bullying and to show solidarity and support for those who have been victimized by it. You can help, not only by wearing pink on Wednesday, but you can also donate, and make the #PinkShirtPromise.
Please send us photos of you and your co-workers who are wearing pink on Pink Shirt Day in the workplace by emailing them to [email protected].
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
February 22, 2017 - The next BC provincial election will be held on May 9, 2017.
As the provincial election gets closer, we have been hearing from Steelworkers across BC who want to get more involved before May 9th. We want to make sure that our voices are heard, and that the issues important to us are being discussed.
Government can be a positive force for change for British Columbians, if they work in our interests. Let’s make sure we make progressive change this May.
USW Local 1944 is seeking members to get involved in the upcoming provincial election in a variety of ways. Please visit http://1944.fyi/May2017 to let us know if you are interested in volunteering time to attend rallies, USW canvass blitzes, door knocking, making phone calls, or attending an upcoming Steelworkers Vote training course in your community (up to 15 local 1944 members to participate).
February 23, 2017 - On November 8, 2016, Shaw Cable suddenly terminated the employment of nearly 200 Field Technicians.
Shaw strategically chose to attack 73 unionized positions; including 54 of our members in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Langley.
These members were laid off in two groups, 30 days apart, to avoid federal law that would have required the company to find a way to keep these members employed. We recognize that Shaw is able to restructure, however, if that is absolutely necessary, we have seniority rights. It is our opinion these members were laid off out of seniority, a direct violation of the collective agreement – a collective agreement that Shaw signed and agreed to.
I am extremely disappointed in Shaw’s decision to reduce their workforce at a time when their company is extremely profitable and celebrating inclusion on the 2017 list of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. In addition to this, it is apparent to us that they cut too deep as they are requesting the remaining members to work overtime and extra shifts.
It’s time for Shaw to do the right thing and bring back our 54.
Our union is committed to fighting Shaw’s attack on our members through the arbitration process. We will continue to communicate with our members as development occur.
February 24, 2017 - The Union has learned members are being instructed and pressured by Telus management to complete the Job Assessment Risk Review (JARR) training and forms on an ongoing basis.
In the Union’s February 17, Safety Bulletin we advised members not to sign any JARR documents as this new Telus safety program may negatively affect worker safety rights.
Telus did not consult the Union or the Telus Policy Health and Safety Committee as outlined in the Canada Labour Code and Part XIX Hazard Prevention Program prior to implementing their new JARR safety program.
The Union has serious concerns about the negative impacts and future implications this new Telus ‘blame-the-worker’ or behavior-based safety policy will have on our members.
A behavior-based safety program focuses on worker behavior instead of workplace hazards as the cause of injuries. This takes attention away from workplace hazards and reinforces the myth that injuries result from bad behaviour rather than hazardous conditions.
It seems Telus is shifting the safety liability from them (the employer) to you (the employee) with their new JARR safety program.
Because of the recent Telus decision to implement a new ‘blame-the-worker’ safety policy without Union or Policy Health and Safety Committee consultation or participation, members should add the following text into the workers limitations section of the JARR form:
The Union and the Policy Health and Safety Committee were not consulted on the Job Assessment Risk Review (JARR) program and this is a contravention of the Canada Labour Code Section 125(1)(z.03).
Due to the importance of our member’s safety at work, an Our Safety Creed message has been included on the back of every Telus/TWU collective agreement for more than 40 years. It outlines the importance of worker safety and states:
The demands of the service or the importance of the job are never so great that we cannot do the job safely.
In light of this, and the importance of workplace safety, every member should take all the necessary time required to assess, test, document and complete each daily work assignment regardless of the Standard Work Time (SWT) assigned by Telus.
February 24, 2017 - Last week the National Executive Council (NEC), local union representatives (Reps), regional Communication Action Team primes (CAT primes), and the Bargaining Committee came together for an in-depth bargaining debrief.
This was the first time that our national local has come together post bargaining to review the process and evaluate what worked well and what we can improve upon as an organization to prepare for 2021.
This was a valuable week that fostered an open and honest discussion to begin strategizing for future bargaining. We recognize the need for transparent discourse in order to come together and apply pressure on our employers for fair collective agreements in the future. We reviewed the roles of NEC, Reps, CAT primes, CATs, the bargaining committee, and staff, as well as the significant role that USW leaders and staff played throughout this process. We had a frank discussion about the challenges we faced and how we can alleviate some of those challenges going forward.
In this past round of bargaining, and with aid and training from USW, we managed to engage our members through communications which we previously didn’t have available to us. By use of CATs, social media, hotlines, and text messaging updates we found there to be higher member engagement than ever before. However, we also noted that the key to successful negotiations for a fair collective agreement is to increase member engagement to a much higher level. We are only as strong as we are engaged and united. Solidarity is vital. That is why we must continue to build on member engagement over the next five years to obtain a fairer collective agreement in 2021.
We need to hold Telus accountable to the collective agreement that was ratified. We know that many members are unhappy with the concessions Telus has made to the current agreement, and we also see that the company is wanting to make more concessions in the future. It is clear that although Telus prides itself on the high-quality service provided by members, that it has little regard for the work-life balance of its employees. The only way to stop concessions and gain improvements will be to grow our membership and be prepared nationally to fight for a fair collective agreement.
So, the fight for 2021 starts now. We need members to continue to engage with CATs in their unit. We need members to reach out to those who may feel apathetic and remind them of the importance of collective bargaining. We need to continue to provide members with education and training to foster the upcoming leaders in our national local.
The National Executive Council wants to thank everyone who has stepped up in the work place during this last round of bargaining, and we give a special thanks to our bargaining committee who have worked tirelessly over the past two...
February 28, 2017 - The TWU, USW Local 1944 is saddened to announce that former Business Agent Chris Andersen has recently passed away.
Chris was active and involved in the union when it was still known as the Federation of Telephone Workers and became a Business Agent representing clerical locals in the 1970s and early 1980s (after the name had been changed to Telecommunications Workers Union).
A strong unionist, Chris was always there when needed. One example of this was in 1974. At the time, the clerical appendix of the collective agreement contained language that entitled workers to extra pay when they were training new employees. When a worker refused to train a new employee without the extra pay, the company suspended her (the company claimed that the worker was not training the new employee but was merely “familiarizing” her). As Chris Andersen stated, the refusal to pay the higher rate and the subsequent suspension amounted to “the company trying to gain things during the life of the contract that weren’t originally negotiated”.
Sympathetic walkouts followed the suspension until there were eventually 10,000 telephone workers off the job. When the company finally agreed to lift the suspension, the union agreed to binding arbitration where the arbitrator “upheld the union’s contention that employees who trained new staff should be classified in a higher pay group”.
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
“It is so important that we continue to advocate for equal rights in the workplace and also to protect our sisters from gender based discrimination, violence, and harassment in the workplace,” said USW 1944 Vice-President, and member of the USW 1944 Women of Steel Committee, Betty Carrasco. “It’s unacceptable that in 2017 we continue to see pay inequity. We also need to push for access to family planning, and support for victims of spousal abuse in the workplace.”
USW 1944 Women of Steel Committee are also encouraging members to participate in an important consultation by the Federal Government of Canada to take action against harassment and sexual violence in workplaces. Members need only to complete a brief survey in order to participate.
March 9, 2017 - On Tuesday March 7th, bargaining began for TWU, USW National Local 1944 Unit 60’s Abbotsford group.
The day started with opening remarks from President Lee Riggs.
“We are hoping to conclude quickly and without acrimony reaching a fair and respectful collective agreement for our members,” said President Riggs, who also extended the support of International President Leo Gerard, Canadian National Director Ken Neumann, and all of the Canadian District Directors, to our members.
Your bargaining committee is being led by Local Union Representatives Tamara Marshall and Jennifer Bucholtz. It includes Brothers (rank and file members) James Large, Lyle Russell, Rob Thompson and alternate committee member Kelly Hope.
Proposals were tabled today by both the union and the company, as is common we will be addressing non-monetary issues first.
Your bargaining committee tabled proposals to improve the following: pay, retirement benefits, health and welfare benefits, scheduling, banking of time, vacation and temporary position provisions.
Both committees presented their proposals and had exploratory discussions to ensure understanding.
Bargaining is scheduled again for April 3rd and 4th with further dates to be scheduled.
We will send out additional updates once we have had a chance to flesh out the company proposals.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local Communication Action Team (CAT) member.
Thank you for showing your support for your bargaining committee.
March 14, 2017 - There are a number of training opportunities coming up for members who want to get involved in the upcoming British Columbia election on May 9, 2017.
The TWU, USW National Local 1944 is seeking up to 15 members to participate in the following sessions:
• April 18-22, 2017 – Lower Mainland • April 24 27, 2017 – Courtenay • April 25-28, 2017 – Quesnel
These sessions are a combination of classroom and hands-on training for members who want to get involved in the 2017 BC election. Participants will learn campaign basics from experienced USW activists and staff. No previous experience or training required.
Please apply only at http://1944.fyi/May2017 by Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 12:00 pm (noon) Pacific Time.
Government can be a positive force for change for British Columbians, if they work in our interests. Let’s make sure we make progressive change this May.
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
March 20, 2017 - On Thursday March 9, the TWU, USW National Local 1944 and Telus Joint Policy Committee met for their first scheduled meeting of 2017.
Telus Director Jordon West was invited by the employer side of the committee as a guest and gave a presentation regarding the newly implemented JARR safety process to the entire committee. The JARR is represented as a concerted effort for the employer to deal with the top three types of incidents experienced by CSD, those being Slips, Trips and Falls; Manual Materials Handling and Motor Vehicle Accidents. Subsequently, the employee side of the committee requested access to the data reports for those three types of incidents for the years of 2014 to 2016 to help identify current trending and to help predict where these issues will likely go in the future. The presentation also contained a limited preamble for further Q2 JARR initiatives that were not covered in any depth on March 9th.
The TWU, USW Local 1944 National Health and Safety Committee is committed to participating in safety at work and looks forward to meaningful consultation on the JARR Program as time goes on. We thank you the general member for your support of our protected Right to Participate under Part II of Canada Labour Code, and encourage your continued use of your individual protected Right to Know under Part II of Canada Labour Code.
“The demands of the service or the importance of the job are never so great that we cannot do the job safely.”
Sincerely,
TWU, USW Local 1944 National Health and Safety Committee.
March 30, 2017 - We have an exciting anniversary coming up this year – the 30th anniversary of Women of Steel!
The Women of Steel program began 30 years ago in District 6, and this year District 6 will be celebrating by holding a Women’s Conference in Toronto on July 24 and 25, 2017.
The theme for the conference is Time for HERstory and will highlight the accomplishments of our Women of Steel, look at how we have overcome challenges and plan for the future of our union. The conference will include panels, workshops, interactive theatre and a social event.
The Women of Steel program began as a way to spur women’s involvement and leadership within our union. The program has offered courses specific to women while improving our union’s ability to address women’s issues in the workplace. Women of Steel continues to break down workplace barriers, encourages women’s participation in union activities and develops leadership.
The TWU, USW National Local 1944 will be sending up to 10 members, both experienced and new activists, to attend the conference.
This will be a great opportunity to reflect on our past, and build and strengthen our union for the future.
April 6, 2017 -In 2005 a gas station attendant, Grant De Patie, was tragically killed while trying to stop a fleeing motorist from stealing gas from a service station in Maple Ridge. Following this loss, Grant’s family and the BC Federation of Labour (BC Fed) called for strengthened protections for those who work alone and at night which lead to the pay-before-you-pump rules.
On April 8th, workers’ advocates and the BC Fed will be holding their annual overnight sit-ins to mark the anniversary to the province’s changes to the rules, known as Grant’s Law, in Vancouver and Victoria.
We encourage members in the area to attend on their own time. It is important to show solidarity and to call for strengthened protection for workers who are made vulnerable by working at night or by themselves.
The protections which were implemented were rarely enforced and eventually some safety requirements were removed from the regulations by Christy Clark and the BC Liberals due to lobbying of corporate donors.
Event details for both the Vancouver and the Victoria sit-ins can be found here. http://bcfed.ca/events
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944
April 7, 2017 - Congratulations to our very own Nancy McCurrach of unit 51 for being selected as USW District 3’s 2017 USW Cares Jefferson Award!
Nancy, who will receive her award in December in Pittsburgh during the International Executive Board meeting, has been recognized for her outstanding work with welcoming Syrian refugees to the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody), British Columbia.
Sister McCurrach founded a group called the Tri-Cities Refugee Welcome Wagon to assist refugees in integrating to their new community. Her group has hosted fundraisers which have collectively raised over $4500 for the new families. Money, and other charitable donations that have been collected have been used to help refugee families by providing anything from clothing, to strollers, to school supplies.
As part of being recognized for all of her charitable work, she will also be given a $500 donation towards her worthy cause.
“Not only are our members active in the labour movement but they go above and beyond in becoming active in social issues that they believe in. Last year our Local Union Representative Ron Palmer was also a recipient of a Jefferson Award. I am so proud of our National Local and all the good work that our members do in their respective communities,” said USW 1944 President Lee Riggs.
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is a long-standing and prestigious organization dedicated to celebrating and honouring public service, The United Steelworkers partnered with the Jefferson Awards Foundation in 2015 to showcase members like Nancy who are doing great work in communities across North America.
We wish Sister McCurrach the best in all of her future community outreach endeavours.
In solidarity,
The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944