Telecommunication
Canada-based telecommunications giant lays off hundreds of employees in 10-minute video call meetings
Telecommunications giant Bell laid off over 400 workers in brief virtual group meetings, according to Unifor, the union representing the employees. Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, condemned the impersonal manner of the terminations as “beyond shameful” in a press release.
The fired workers, many with years of service at Bell, were informed they were being declared “surplus” in 10-minute video calls. Unifor claimed a manager read a layoff notice without allowing employees or union representatives to ask questions. “Our members, who have devoted years of service to this telecoms and media giant, are being repaid with pink slips,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor’s Quebec director, in a statement.
In a statement to the Toronto Star, Bell’s communications director, Ellen Murphy, disputed some of Unifor’s characterization. Murphy stated that the company has been transparent with union leadership for over five weeks about the layoff process and has met its obligations under collective bargaining agreements. Murphy added that terminated employees also had individual HR meetings to discuss severance packages.
The layoffs came after Bell announced plans to eliminate 4,800 positions, about 9% of its workforce, in February. CEO Mirko Bibic, as reported by the Toronto Star, called the cuts necessary to “simplify our organization and accelerate our transformation” on an earnings call with analysts. However, the decision drew wide criticism as Bell simultaneously raised its dividend payout to shareholders.
Unifor, representing over 19,000 workers at Bell and its subsidiaries, said members have dreaded meeting invites since the February announcement. “The truth is Bell picked a number of heads to roll so it could increase its dividend payout without an actual plan on which jobs and which workers would be eliminated so the terminations are cruelly dragged out,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President, in the union’s press release.
According to the union’s press release, Unifor members rallied in Ottawa to protest the cuts and criticise Bell for postponing Parliamentary hearings at which it was to be questioned about the layoffs. Unifor launched a “Shame on Bell” campaign in response to the terminations.
The virtual terminations echo a similar controversy in 2021 when some Bell Media employees were reportedly notified they were being let go in brief conference calls, as previously reported by the Toronto Star.
Bell maintains the layoffs are part of a necessary restructuring to simplify the organisation and transform the business. However, the protesters argue the cuts prioritise shareholder payouts over employees. Unifor vows to continue its campaign against the company’s handling of the layoffs.
Bell reported a $2.3 billion profit at the end of 2022, according to Unifor. Len Poirier, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, said, “Our dedicated, loyal workers, who are predominately women, will have to explain to their families tonight that they are being let go from Bell for no good reason other than making sure that their shareholders and Board of Directors come first when getting paid. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
The fired workers, many with years of service at Bell, were informed they were being declared “surplus” in 10-minute video calls. Unifor claimed a manager read a layoff notice without allowing employees or union representatives to ask questions. “Our members, who have devoted years of service to this telecoms and media giant, are being repaid with pink slips,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor’s Quebec director, in a statement.
In a statement to the Toronto Star, Bell’s communications director, Ellen Murphy, disputed some of Unifor’s characterization. Murphy stated that the company has been transparent with union leadership for over five weeks about the layoff process and has met its obligations under collective bargaining agreements. Murphy added that terminated employees also had individual HR meetings to discuss severance packages.
The layoffs came after Bell announced plans to eliminate 4,800 positions, about 9% of its workforce, in February. CEO Mirko Bibic, as reported by the Toronto Star, called the cuts necessary to “simplify our organization and accelerate our transformation” on an earnings call with analysts. However, the decision drew wide criticism as Bell simultaneously raised its dividend payout to shareholders.
Unifor, representing over 19,000 workers at Bell and its subsidiaries, said members have dreaded meeting invites since the February announcement. “The truth is Bell picked a number of heads to roll so it could increase its dividend payout without an actual plan on which jobs and which workers would be eliminated so the terminations are cruelly dragged out,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President, in the union’s press release.
According to the union’s press release, Unifor members rallied in Ottawa to protest the cuts and criticise Bell for postponing Parliamentary hearings at which it was to be questioned about the layoffs. Unifor launched a “Shame on Bell” campaign in response to the terminations.
The virtual terminations echo a similar controversy in 2021 when some Bell Media employees were reportedly notified they were being let go in brief conference calls, as previously reported by the Toronto Star.
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Bell maintains the layoffs are part of a necessary restructuring to simplify the organisation and transform the business. However, the protesters argue the cuts prioritise shareholder payouts over employees. Unifor vows to continue its campaign against the company’s handling of the layoffs.
Bell reported a $2.3 billion profit at the end of 2022, according to Unifor. Len Poirier, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, said, “Our dedicated, loyal workers, who are predominately women, will have to explain to their families tonight that they are being let go from Bell for no good reason other than making sure that their shareholders and Board of Directors come first when getting paid. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
