Bell Craft workers, represented by Unifor, have reached a tentative agreement with Bell Canada following months of negotiations. The agreement, reached on November 13, 2024, covers approximately 2,900 technicians and testers across Ontario and Quebec.
The bargaining committee, which is recommending the deal unanimously, has not disclosed specific details pending ratification votes by union members at upcoming meetings.
“Members of this bargaining unit keep Bell in business by maintaining critical telecommunications systems,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “They show up to work united in their expertise and professionalism, and their bargaining team brought those same values to the table in this round of talks.”
The Bell Craft unit includes 32 local unions and performs roles such as cable repair, network maintenance, and repairs in central offices and for business clients. The workers form part of a larger contingent of over 19,000 telecommunications employees represented by Unifor at Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) and its subsidiaries.
Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier acknowledged the effort behind the negotiations. “I’d like to extend my congratulations to the membership and local leadership for reaching this agreement. Craft workers know how to get the job done well, and their bargaining team did just that,” he said.
The agreement comes ahead of further negotiations in the telecommunications sector in 2025. “In the new year, thousands more Unifor members in telecom will also head to the table, bargaining to protect good jobs and a telecommunications system that serves the next generation of workers and Canadians,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director.
Unifor is Canada’s largest private-sector union, representing more than 320,000 workers in various industries, including nearly 55,000 in Quebec.