B.C. Rogers technicians give strong strike mandate amid concerns over Shaw job losses
BNN Bloomberg
Around 300 former Shaw technicians absorbed by Rogers Communications Inc. during the companies' merger have overwhelmingly voted to strike amid concerns over job security following recent layoffs and voluntary departures.
The union representing the workers, who are based in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Langley, B.C., says those job losses call into question Rogers' commitment to create 3,000 new jobs in Western Canada over five years — a federally mandated condition of the $26-billion takeover.
In July, Rogers began offering voluntary departure packages and confirmed an unspecified number of employees were laid off as it integrated with Shaw and worked to eliminate duplication.
Jayson Little, a spokesperson for United Steelworkers union Local 1944, says Rogers is seeking to erode contractual language that prevents staff technicians' work from being performed by contractors at homes and businesses. Rogers did not immediately provide comment.
