[jammies]

From the article, it looks like the main objection is raising the work week to 40 hours from 37. I fail to see how not wanting to change your hours - regardless of whether you're getting paid for it or not - isn't a valid reason to reject a contract.

Note that this is a LOCKOUT, not a strike, so it is the company who is forcing the workers onto the picket lines. I suppose if you have the temerity to reject a contract agreed upon by your lords and masters that firing you IS an appropriate response, though - it's too bad we don't still have public flogging or they really get what's coming to them.

PS - one of the big reasons I quit working at Bell was that they unilaterally raised our hours from 37.5 a week to 40. Some of us prefer more leisure to more money - I know it sounds crazy, but there it is.