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Message from Unifor ACL Chair Bobby MacDonald
A better deal for Unifor ACL Members
Dear Members of Unifor ACL:
The Unifor ACL bargaining committee is pleased to report that a tentative agreement has been reached with Bell Aliant, after eight tough sessions of bargaining in Halifax over the last year.
This tentative agreement was made possible by you the members because of your unwavering support. You sent the employer a strong message of solidarity and you sent our bargaining committee a message to hold our ground and stand firm.
We did that with your pensions, your wages and your jobs!
Your DB and DC Bell Aliant Pension Plans remain unchanged.
We reduced the contractors and put further restrictions on retirees.
We negotiated job security and wage increases while adding new members to the bargaining unit. We negotiated enhanced mental health initiatives, paid domestic violence leave and more Paid Education Leave with Unifor.
The committee would like to thank all members who showed their support by wearing Unifor Red in our many workplaces. Together, seeing hundreds of your photos and videos on social media helped us get a fair agreement for all 2200 members.
Enclosed are highlights of the tentative agreement that your committee is proud to recommend for ratification.
In solidarity,
Bobby MacDonald
Chair, Unifor ACL
Unifor ACL Bargaining Report – Highlights of the tentative agreement between Unifor ACL and Bell Aliant
Message from Unifor President Jerry Dias
Solidarity in Atlantic Canada Sends Powerful Message
In Atlantic Canada Unifor members built Canada’s first fibre optic network and in this round of bargaining you let your employer know that you expect to share in the profits of your hard work. You are an important part of the telecommunications sector and in important part of the region’s economy. Your work to both protect and create good jobs in Atlantic Canada is commendable.
I am proud of what the bargaining committee achieved in this tentative agreement and how you, as Unifor members, stood your ground when the employer wanted to strip away so many hard earned benefits. Four years of wage increase and job security guarantees are significant.
This tentative agreement will be put to members to vote on. It is however the direct result of an engaged membership who were able to mobilize and empower their bargaining committee during what started out as a very challenging set of negotiations. Seeing hundreds of you proudly wear Unifor red in the workplace, and then post images and messages on social media along with sharing videos created by members made me proud. Your actions were a demonstration of the power of our union. Your collective work also sent a powerful message of solidarity to other Unifor Bell workers who are in bargaining.
I am also proud of the work the bargaining team did to negotiate paid domestic leave provisions to ensure that absences which are not covered by sick leave or disability insurance and result from domestic violence will be granted as a paid absence. This is a priority for all Unifor locals and it is an important provision.
With pride, I join your Unifor ACL bargaining committee in recommending this tentative agreement for approval.
In solidarity
Jerry Dias
National President