dailyblend
Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) has initiated a mass termination of its workers through virtual group meetings, sparking outrage among Unifor Bell telecommunications members. This follows a day after Unifor protested BCE’s job cuts across Canada. Despite significant profits and increased shareholder payouts, BCE continues its job elimination spree, affecting over 19,000 telecommunications workers represented by Unifor.
Unifor National President Lana Payne criticized BCE’s lack of a concrete job cuts plan, describing the process as cruelly prolonged. “Bell picked a number of heads to roll to increase its dividend payout without a clear plan on which jobs would be cut,” Payne stated.
The notification process targeted over 400 members of the Bell Clerical Bargaining Unit as ‘surplus’, with some eligible for retirement incentives. Initially, a brief meeting led by Christopher Corsi, Bell’s Human Resources and Labour Relations manager, denied members the opportunity to ask questions. However, following union backlash, Bell amended its approach, allowing for questions in future meetings.
Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier condemned the layoffs, saying, “Our members, who have devoted years to Bell, are repaid with pink slips. If that’s not shameful, I don’t know what is.”
The layoffs are part of BCE’s broader strategy to eliminate 4,800 jobs, including 800 Unifor members in telecommunications and media, while the company reported a $2.3 billion profit last year.
In response, Unifor launched the “Shame on Bell” campaign, advocating for the affected workers and criticizing BCE’s focus on shareholder profits over employee livelihoods. Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier described the situation as “absolutely disgusting,” highlighting the company’s disregard for its dedicated workforce.
Unifor stands firm in its advocacy for worker rights, equality, and social justice, challenging BCE’s prioritization of profits over people.
