The United Steelworkers union (USW) has filed an application with the British Columbia Supreme Court seeking an injunction against Telus’ return-to-office directive.
The union is requesting interim relief to protect the rights of affected workers who face a difficult choice between accepting a Voluntary Severance Package (VSP), Early Retirement Incentive Plans (ERIP), or returning to the office, it said.
The USW has asked the court to expedite its hearing, scheduled for Aug. 7, 2024. The union contends that the proposed changes by Telus will cause irreparable harm to employees, particularly impacting women, individuals with families, elder care responsibilities, and members with disabilities.
“The impact of these changes on our members cannot be overstated,” said Jayson Little, USW staff representative. “We are deeply concerned about the discriminatory and disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups within our membership and believe that the actions from Telus are in direct violation of the very laws designed to protect workers.”
The USW is seeking an injunction to prevent Telus from forcing employees to choose between the VSP, ERIP, and returning to the office. The union also aims to preserve the existing remote work arrangements for affected employees.
“By filing for this court order, the union aims to ensure that affected employees retain their rights under the existing work-from-home policies and are not unfairly pressured into making a decision that could lead to significant personal and professional hardships,” added Little.
This legal action follows two rallies held over the weekend in Toronto and Burnaby, B.C., where hundreds of USW members protested against the Telus Ontario Call Centre closures and the return-to-office directive.
The United Steelworkers union represents 225,000 members in various economic sectors across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.