Margin solid but voter turnout low
On June 7, the 12,100 employees of Telus Corp. voted 80 per cent in favour of a new labour contract. Members of the Telecommunications Workers Union, they had been without a contract since November 19, 2010.
However, less than one-quarter of those eligible to vote did so.
The new deal gives them a $400 signing bonus for full-time and regular part-time employees, 1.5 per cent in the first year (but not retroactively), followed by two per cent in each of the next three years and 2.5 per cent in the fifth year, plus a COLA triggered at three per cent and capped at a one per cent increase in the last year only.
As well, it provides a three-step national grievance structure, shift flexibility that allows management to schedule 20 per cent of full-time employees to irregular shifts, and a new $4.50 split shift premium. Several legal proceedings between the parties were also withdrawn as a result of the agreement.
The last renewal between Telus and the TWU came in 2005 after a bitter 17-week strike.
