Saskatchewan hi-tech firm on verge of legal job action

REGINA, Dec. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - IT support services for several large corporations and government agencies across Western Canada could be disrupted if a deal is not reached during bargaining this month at ISM Canada. More than 300 Unifor Local 911 members could take legal job action if massive concessions are not withdrawn by the IBM-owned company.

"We've done our very best to reach terms with ISM Canada, but the company is demanding massive concessions that we simply will not accept," said Kate McKinley, a Service Representative from Unifor. "We prefer a negotiated solution, but ISM doesn't seem committed to preventing service interruptions for their clients."

The implications of legal job action are far-reaching for ISM clients. ISM staff, including technicians and programmers, service large corporate clients and government agencies, including:

• Air Canada
• B.C. Government
• Bell Canada
• eHealth
• Farm Credit Canada (FCC)
• Federated Co-Operatives Limited (FCL)
• Government of Saskatchewan – Information Technology Office (ITO)
• Health Shared Services BC (HSSBC)
• Information Services Corporation (ISC)
• MTS
• Saskatchewan Energy Corporation (SaskEnergy)
• Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
• Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower)
• SaskTel

"ISM is an incredibly profitable company. The people who make that possible deserve reasonable job security and a share of the profits they help create," said McKinley. "What ISM has tabled so far only takes employees backwards and won't even keep up with inflation."

Local 911 has been trying to reach a negotiated settlement on a new contract since December 2013.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. Unifor works to protect its members and play a leadership role in building thriving, safe workplaces and a strong economy so all workers in Canada have a good job, a decent standard of living and greater equality.

SOURCE: Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or [email protected]