PRESS RELEASES

KINGSTON & DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL


FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2nd, 1999

COME TO BELL - LET'S RAISE HELL
KINGSTON FEBRUARY 5, 1999

Kingston:

Bell announced on January 11 that it plans to sell its operator services division to Excell Global Services which means that 55 work centres spread throughout Ontario and Quebec will shrink to five. That would translate into job loss for the majority of operators.

"A greed-motivated sell-out and a callous response to the employee's efforts to gain pay equity" is how the union representing Bell Canada workers reacted to the company's decision to abandon its mostly women telephone operators by selling their jobs to an American call centre business.

Bell made $852 million in profits and paid its CEO $17 million in 1997. Profits for 1998 will top $900 million.

65 of those operators work at the Kingston location.

You can help operators keep their jobs in their communities.

There is an INFORMATION PICKET from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. on FRIDAY February 5th, 450 Princess St., Kingston.

HOW CAN YOU HELP ???

Join in SOLIDARITY with CEP Local 31 and the Kingston Bell workers at this information picket at 450 Princess St. Kingston.

Tell all your co-workers and friends and ask them to spread the word.

Call Bell's Executive complaint line 1-800-717-6354 and tell them if they go through with the sale you will move your service to other companies.

Pass this number (above) around....every call counts.

Come yourself and bring someone with you. Its great exercise for the body and mind.

If you can't participate encourage others to fill your spot on the line.

Visit the CEP web site at www.cep.ca to learn more.

Call Brenda Vaudry in Kingston at 548-3337 for more info.

And finally.... Distribute this message to all your e-mail contacts and ask them to do the same.

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For further information call:

Charlie Stock  (613) 549-6258			
President,									
Kingston and District Labour Council

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