Bell Craft and Services workers have ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes wage increases, expanded full-time opportunities, and improved job security, according to Unifor, the union representing the approximately 2,900 workers.
The deal, finalized on Nov. 13 after months of negotiations, provides a $4.80 per hour wage increase over the contract’s duration, equating to an average $10,000 raise per worker, Unifor said. It also reclassifies all current part-time positions to full-time, a significant shift in the workforce structure.
“This is a good deal for craft technicians, one that protects their work, shortens the wage scale, and delivers improvements on representation and benefits,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.
The agreement, which was reached without concessions, also restores post-retirement benefits and includes retirement incentives for 600 workers over the life of the contract. Other changes address allowances for work boots, shift differentials, per diems, and disciplinary and grievance procedures, according to the union.
“Craft technicians came with some bold proposals on how to improve their working conditions,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president. “We may not have gotten everything we wanted, but this is a good deal that delivers equity and stability for technicians.”
The Bell Craft workforce spans Ontario and Quebec, comprising technicians and testers responsible for cable repair, network maintenance, and client services. The deal comes ahead of broader negotiations in 2025 involving thousands of other Unifor members employed by Bell.
Unifor represents more than 19,000 telecommunications workers at BCE and its subsidiaries and over 320,000 members across all sectors in Canada.