[White Out 403]

Scumbag company continues to be scumbags


https://usw1944.ca/articles/return-o...office-closure

Hello members,

It is with great sadness and outrage that we must report a substantial and unacceptable change to the At Home Agent program that has been a cornerstone of call centre members' professional lives for the past several years. TELUS and ADT by Telus has announced a return to the office, 3 days a week for most of their Customer Experience employees. When the company needed us to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, we stepped up and delivered in class excellence for our customers without hesitation. Now, TELUS is betraying our trust and undermining the progress we have made.

This abrupt decision marks a sharp departure from the efforts TELUS has made over the past few years to close offices and promote remote work. We have proven that working from home not only works but also results in greater work-life balance for our members. Many of us even made significant changes to home life to ensure the continuation of this successful arrangement.

To make matters worse, our members in Ontario have been dealt a devastating blow. On top of the return-to-office directive, they have been informed that there is no office to return to in the province. TELUS has decided to eliminate all call centre offices in Ontario, forcing our members to either relocate to Montreal or accept a so-called 'voluntary' severance package. This illusion of choice, to uproot families and move to another province or face unemployment, is nothing short of disgusting.

We are deeply concerned by TELUS' reckless decision-making, which continually shifts their business model at the expense of our members' well-being. We understand the immense anxiety and uncertainty this brings to you and your families, and we stand with you.

Rest assured, we are exploring all avenues, legal and otherwise, to combat this action. We will not stand by while TELUS disregards the hard work and dedication of our members.

Further updates will be coming soon, and please do not hesitate to reach out to your Local Union Representative with any concerns or questions.

In Solidarity,

USW Local 1944

https://globalnews.ca/news/10617207/...kers-relocate/

Telus Corp. has informed around 150 call centre employees based in Ontario they must relocate by October, apply for another role or agree to be laid off.

The union representing those workers, United Steelworkers Local 1944, said it was informed Tuesday that affected employees would have the option of working in Montreal, calling it a “backdoor termination” by Telus in an attempt to reduce the company’s head count.

The move is part of a larger reorganization announced internally on Wednesday. It will require around 1,000 call centre employees across the country, who have been working remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic began, to return to the office three days a week starting in September.

But customer service agents in Ontario won’t have a local office to return to because Telus is closing its Barrie location, which housed its Ontario contact centre, “following a thoughtful review of our real estate,” said spokeswoman Brandi Merker.

“We’ve been on a journey to evolve our customer service, increasingly offering digital and self-serve options that continue to decrease call volumes,” she said in an emailed statement.

“As part of this evolution, we’re investing in our frontline team members with training, reskilling and new tools that modernize our capabilities so that when customers do need to call us for more complex situations, their issue is resolved the first time, every time.”

Merker said those who accept relocation will receive financial support, while the voluntary separation package being offered exceeds the requirements of the Canada Labour Code.

“While we hope our team is excited to evolve and grow with us, we know this is a change to the way we work today, and in particular, represents a significant personal decision for our Ontario-based team members,” she said.