---------- From: Sid Shniad To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Poll shows Canadians oppose Bell move Date: Friday, January 15, 1999 5:29PM For immediate release January 15, 1999 Poll shows Canadians oppose Bell move OTTAWA - Well over 80% of Canadians surveyed think Bell Canada is wrong to sell off its operators' jobs to a U.S. company. A large majority (73%) believe the move will have a negative impact on the economy and up to (63%) are willing to take action to protest the company's decision. These are among the results of a national survey of 600 Canadians commissioned by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, the union representing the 2,500 telephone operators whose jobs are at risk. Bell plans to sell its operator service division to the Arizona-based Excell Global Services, shrinking 55 work centres into five. CEP President Fred Pomeroy says he is not surprised by the results given that his office has been flooded with e-mail messages, phone calls, and faxes from individuals and organizations offering support and solidarity. A substantial majority of Canadians (80%) feel that a corporation that has received research grants and tax breaks from the Canadian government should not be allowed to make such a move. Overwhelmingly, Canadians believe that profitable corporations have an obligation to their employees instead of selling off their jobs to American corporations. In all, 83% of those interviewed agreed with this statement, the remaining 17% disagreed. When respondents were asked what they would do themselves to show their disapproval of Bell's actions, half of all Canadians would take the drastic action of switching to other carriers for services. An even greater percentage (63%) would be willing to complain by mail or phone to Bell. An almost equal proportion of respondents (67%) felt that Bell's actions warranted the withdrawal of all funding and financial support from the government. In all 78% of those interviewed felt that the Prime Minister should speak out against Bell's move. CEP President Fred Pomeroy also announced today that the union has applied for the assistance of a federal conciliation officer. "We are fighting back at the bargaining table, on the legal front and by harnessing the support of the thousands of Canadians who are clearly upset at the length corporations will go to sacrifice workers in the name of profits. The survey was conducted of a random sample of 600 Canadians. The survey was fielded by ComQUEST Research on Jan. 13 and 14, 1999. The margin of error in a survey of this size is +/-4.0%. Gary Cwitco Executive Secretary CEP Humanity Fund 200-701 Evans Ave. Etobicoke, Ontario phone 416.622.2740 fax 416.620.0781
