Industrial Relations

There are currently two trade unions in Bell Canada which in 2005 represented approximately 48% of our workforce: the Canadian Telecommunications Employees' Association (CTEA), representing approximately 10,000 clerical and 700 sales employees, and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' Union of Canada (CEP), which represents some 5,900 Bell technicians and 200 operators.

Breakdown of unionized employees in 2005

Freedom of association

Bell has had a unionized workforce for more than 50 years and respects the right of its employees to seek union representation. The provisions of all applicable labour legislation are respected.

Union dialogue

Ongoing and open communications and information sharing help both employees and their representatives understand our business and its challenges. Business forums with union leaders and joint management and union committees, some of which are entrenched in the collective agreements, ensure unions are kept up-to-date on Bell's strategic direction and of any planned employment change.

Bell has disciplinary processes in place designed to respect a progressive discipline principle. Our collective agreements include appeal processes under the form of a multi-step grievance procedure. Arbitration by a third party is available if resolution by the parties is not possible.

Collective Bargaining

In 2005, Bell successfully negotiated a 4-year collective agreement with the CTEA, representing Clerical and Associated employees, without any work disruption.

Pay Equity

On June 19, 2006 Bell Canada was informed by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada that the pay equity settlement reached between the parties on May 15, 2006, had been ratified by a large majority (95%) of eligible CEP members. The settlement is valued at approximately $100 million and resolves the longstanding pay equity dispute between Bell and the CEP.

Bell achieved a pay equity settlement with the Canadian Telecommunications Employees' Association (CTEA) in 2002.