Union Calling Inc. pays $65,000 to end CRTC investigation of its clients

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Calling Inc., a Canadian company that specializes in connecting unions with their members using automated telecommunications systems, has agreed to pay a $65,000 penalty to the Receiver-General of Canada as part of an agreement with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to terminate its investigation of the work Union Calling undertook for its clients from 2011 to 2013.

"While we appreciated the CRTC's role in ensuring that Canadians can control the telephone calls they receive, we had very serious concerns about the scope of its investigation of our clients," said Bill Reno, Union Calling's founder. "Agreeing to the penalty proposed by the CRTC was the only way we saw to protect the confidentiality of our clients' communications with their members."

The CRTC's Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules require anyone who makes automated telephone calls to state the address and telephone number of the person originating the calls.  Union Calling's policy has been to enable recipients to obtain this information by pressing a number on their telephone handset - but the CRTC rules require the information to be stated in the first few seconds of the message itself.  "Our company has always provided contact information in the automated calls it helps to deliver," said Christopher Murdoch, Union Calling's Director of Operations and Chief Compliance Officer.  "Going forward we will ensure that our clients are aware of this CRTC requirement."

Union Calling was pleased that it was able to protect its clients' information by accepting the terms offered by the CRTC for ending its investigation.  "Although it came at a very high price," Reno said, "we protected the confidentiality of the information entrusted to Union Calling by its clients about their internal matters."

About Union Calling:  Founded in 2004, Union Calling helps union leaders to connect with members through voice broadcasts and telephone town halls. Fully unionized, it works exclusively for unions, their allies and other progressive organizations.

SOURCE: Union Calling Inc.

Bill Reno, 416-223-7366