A15 - Wednesday, March 4, 1981 - North Shore News|

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ved

We have heard | your concerns.

_— But, let’s look at. some facts about oe

_ Wage. cost comparisons in 1981.

B.C. Tel total -wage costs in 1979

B.C. Tel recent. wage Offer costs in 1981

Increase in 1981 costs oe

“

These costs were contained in our recently approved rate
decision.

as we understand it

$212 Million
266 Million

$ 54 54 Million
rs 12 Million

| B.C. Tel total wage costs in 1979

1981 Wage costs
Increase in 1981 costs

Additional cost

BC Tel is attempting to act in the public interest by resisting
these additional Jnflationary costs...’

The Federal Government on the other. hand, says accept the
higher costs.

However, Federal Conciliation Commissioner Peck

recognized the responsibility for cost in his report last September.
To quote’

‘&

“In the final analysis, only the company can decide what tt
can afford, or not afford, and that will determine its
bottom line in bargaining and requires no justification.”

To accept these higher costs could mean financial instability
and. create a situation for our company similar to that faced by
corporations such as Chrysler or Massey-Ferguson. In the end.
these companies asked the government to bail them out. We do
not intend to let that happen in BC. Tel.

.C. Fel’s Recent Offer
$212 Million

s

Is B.C. Tel’s recent offer a
fair c one? You compare

—

HOURLY Rates

Oct. 1, June 1, Jan. 1,
1980 1981

MIN. 6.35 6.99 7.83 |
-MIN. 812 8.94 10. OF
MAX. 9.13 10.04 11.25

uN 6.35 6.99 7. 83

MIN. 7.68 8.44 945 |

Annual Wages (Maximum)

Driver-Messenger

Clerk-Group 4 $14,524 $20,295
Driver-Messenger 15.753 22.017
Data Entry Operator 14.524 20.295,

Telephone Installer 21,822 30,492

Technician IH 24627 34.415
Drattsman 20,107 28.096
Salesman 23.993 33.528
Service Rep (Group 5) 15.753 22.019
Telephone Operator | 13,986 19.543

Acceptance of the offer which amounts to 39% over 3
years would ‘make B.C. Tel union employees the highest paid
telephone workers in Canada.

A further offer this week.

While our recent offer is a good one, everyone is concerned
about the effects of this prolonged dispute on our customers and
the economy of B.C. In an attempt to reach an agreement to
end this dispute the company has offered to go even further and
meet the union halfway in 1981 If accepted, this would result in
a new Collective Agreement and an immediate return to work.

BCTEL \&)