October 2, 2006

MTS Allstream’s decision to slash 345 positions, 110 of them from CEP Local 7’s bargaining unit, will reduce customer service on the front lines.

“Customers will notice delays for all kinds of service requests,” said Local 7 president Diane Shaver. “Everything from operators to Internet to the TV service will be affected.”

Workers in customer care, clerical and operator services will lose long-time, full-time jobs with yet another staffing reduction. These cuts come less than two months after the Company sold MTS Media to Quebec-based Yellow Pages.

The jobs will be eliminated through a voluntary program - VRTIP (Voluntary Retirement Termination Incentive Program) – that awards senior employees with severance and pension bridging. If insufficient people come forward the job losses may then come through MTS layoffs.

“We are extremely disappointed that MTS continues to cut jobs in an already lean shop,” said Lea Baturin, CEP National Representative.

“Once again Manitoba loses well-paid, full-time positions because of MTS policies rooted in the privatisation of the former crown corporation.”

CEP Local 7 represents about 1300 members at MTS, AAA Alarms and Yellow Pages. CEP represents 150,000 working people coast to coast in energy, paper, telecommunications, media, graphics and commercial printing.

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For more information, contact:           
Lea Baturin, National Representative
(204)-988-1404 or (204) 792-5498