Bell Negotiations Update: In our negotiations update of July 28th, we noted that we would be keeping a close eye on the collective agreement negotiations between Bell and clerical employees in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces represented by Unifor. We are pleased to report that a new agreement was reached and ratified by the unit of over 4,000 employees in Ontario and Quebec, averting strike action that was planned for August 18th. General wage increases for the 4-year deal are 3.25% (retro-active to December 2021), 2.5%, 2.5% and 2.5%.
Additionally, we can report that the bargaining unit representing clerical employees in the Atlantic provinces ratified their new agreement yesterday. General wage increases for their 4-year deal are 3.25%, 3%, 2%, and 2.5%.
Below is a look at general wage increases that have been negotiated with Bell since we ratified our last agreement on September 20, 2019.
| Union | Bargaining Unit Description | Location | Ratification Date | 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year |
| TEAM-IFPTE Local 161 | Bell supervisory & mid-management employees | MB | Sept 20, 2019 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | |
| Unifor Local 7 | Bell clerical employees | MB | Aug 26, 2020 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | |
| IBEW Local 435 | Bell technicians | MB | Feb 1, 2021 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | |
| Unifor (multiple locals) | Bell technicians | ON, PQ | Aug 13, 2021 | 1.5%* | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Unifor Local 950 | Bell technicians | BC, AB, MB | Spring of 2022 | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
| Unifor | Bell Technical Solutions technicians | ON | May 28, 2022 | 3.25%** 2.5%*** | 3.25%** 2.5%*** | 3.25%** 2.5%*** | 3.25%** 2.5%*** |
| Unifor (multiple locals) | Bell clerical employees | ON, PQ | Aug 18, 2022 | 3.25% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Unifor (multiple locals) | Bell clerical employees | NB, NS, PEI, NL | Sept 15, 2022 | 3.25% | 3% | 2% | 2.5% |
* Plus a signing bonus of .5%
** 3.25% for members with > than 7yrs of service
*** 2.5% for members still on the wage progression scale
Our Negotiating Committee is eager to head back to the table October 4-7th to continue working towards reaching a fair deal with Bell. We thank you for your continued patience and support!
TEAM Scholarship Reminder: The Scholarship Committee is calling for applications to TEAM’s annual scholarship program. TEAM will award scholarships to members and members’ children as follows:
- Four $500 scholarships to TEAM members to help defray the cost of a work or career related academic or vocational course or seminar, and
- Four $1,000 scholarships to dependent children, including stepchildren, of TEAM members enrolled in first year post-secondary education at university, community college, trade school or an apprenticeship program.
Details of the scholarships, eligibility criteria and application forms are available here. The deadline for applications is end of day September 30, 2022.
National Day of Mourning to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II & NDTR: Earlier this week, the Prime Minister of Canada announced that Monday, September 19th will be a National Day of Mourning to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. While initially it seemed the day would be a holiday for all federally regulated workplaces and employees (including TEAM members at Bell), it has since been confirmed that it is limited to federal government employees only. Although the provinces/territories and federally regulated Employers were encouraged and had discretion as to whether to provide the day as a holiday, both Manitoba’s provincial government and Bell Canada have decided not to recognize the day as an official holiday. If Manitoba had decided to do so, the day would have been considered a Company holiday for TEAM members per our current collective agreement Article 23.01, which stipulates that any new “holiday proclaimed by the Government of Manitoba, or the Government of Canada as a holiday for the general public shall be recognized as a Company holiday”.
This means that, for TEAM members, September 19th is a regular working day; however, members who have not taken their Floating Holiday and/or have remaining Personal Leave Days can request to use them to have Monday off.
Also, just to confirm, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for all federally regulated employees, and as such, September 30th is recognized as a Company Holiday for TEAM members. Per Article 23.05, double-time rates apply for all members scheduled to work the holiday.
Winnipeg Labour Council Municipal Election Candidate ‘Meet & Greet’: Through our affiliation with the Winnipeg Labour Council (WLC), TEAM members residing in Winnipeg are invited to attend a virtual ‘meet and greet’ event with some of the WLC’s slate of labour-endorsed candidates for Mayor and City Council in the upcoming municipal election on October 26th. The virtual event, hosted by former CUPE National President, Paul Moist, will be held via Zoom, on Tuesday, September 20th at 7:00pm. To join, please go to the WLC’s Facebook event page for the Zoom link – this event is open to the public to attend, so please feel free to share with interested friends and family members.
Members can view the names of all candidates nominated and registered to run in the election and gain access to available platforms here. TEAM members may recognize a familiar name running for City Council in the St. James ward, as former member, Kelly Ryback, has wholeheartedly ‘thrown his hat into the ring’. We wish Kelly, and all candidates luck on election day, and no matter how you decide to cast your vote, TEAM encourages all members simply to vote.