Telus cuts subscriber access to pro-union website

[CHIMO]

Telus cuts subscriber access to pro-union website
Last Updated Sun, 24 Jul 2005 22:45:13 EDT
CBC News

The B.C.-based communications company that's in a bitter fight with unionized employees has blocked its internet subscribers from accessing a website supporting striking union members.

Telus subscribers can't get into Voices for Change, which says it's "a community website run by and for Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) members. "

The site calls the company's move censorship, and TWU president Bruce Bell questioned its legality.

But the company said the site suggested striking workers jam Telus phone lines, and posted pictures of employees crossing the union picket lines.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/07/24/telus-sites050724.html

More censorship. Must be like the newspaper business. If one owns the paper then one is free to put forward information.

[getmeouttahere]

1. I have a feeling this will only solidify...

support for the union. Canadians are far less likely to put up with this sort of thing, at least from my experience.

[HEyHEY]

2. Let's see your proof of censorship in the newspaper business

Not that I agree with what Telus has done.. but I see no mention here about telus employees cutting phone lines on Friday.

[CHIMO]

3. The Gazette Intifada

When reporters at Montreal's Gazette learned of the conditions placed on their right to speak out, they continued to vent their anger. Due to the fear of being reprimanded, they've chosen to vent their frustration — but anonymously


We've seen the ugly face of censorship at the Gazette and, in case you're
wondering, the face looks an awful lot like Izzy Asper's.

Our corporate masters at CanWest Global Communications Corp. have created an atmosphere where we feel we must censor the news and commentary we produce. Now they've gone one step further: by issuing a memo (please see The Last Word) attempting to limit our right to express opinion, dissent or even engage in that most fundamental journalistic pastime, gossip.

Gazette journalists have been "reminded" of an obligation of primary loyalty to our employer. This is legal concept the company has twisted in an attempt to thwart the right to freedom of expression, enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights.

http://www.caj.ca/mediamag/winter2002/opinion.html

[HEyHEY]

5. Much of that has stopped since Izzy died

Granted Izzy, was a crusty ole' bugger that slanted Israel Palestine coverage. But I think this article proves my point. Notice how the reporters aren't taking that shit?
Everyone loves to point fingers at the press as if reporters are part of some vast conspiracy. However, in this case that is not so. Even today if you read the Province's columnist Michael SMith you'll see loyalties of that nature aren't enforced.

[CHIMO]

4. Telus gets injunction against union

Even Telus said it is surprised by the scope of the court order it obtained late Friday, which bars union members in British Columbia from picketing near its premises or those of its customers in a way that "blocks, obstructs or impedes" access.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050725.wxrtelus25/BNStory/Business/

I presume that you have a reference to the conviction for the workers that cut the lines?

[HEyHEY]

6. Yuppers

http://channels.netscape.ca/finance/article.adp?id=20050722202909990007

[CHIMO]

7. Well

Goodness gracious.
Where does it state that Telus didn't have the lines cut so that they could obtain an injunction?

[HEyHEY]

8. union bully tactics such as this are not uncommon

Look at what is happening with the truck drivers.

Besides that wouldn't help them get the kind of injunction they got.

[CHIMO]

9. Corporate

Power is not uncommon.

Union busting will only lead to violence.

[HEyHEY]

10. So, are you justifying the container truckers

Throwing rocks through the windows of a truck driver's house including into the bedroom of his child?

[CHIMO]

11. Nope

Of course not. How could one. There was a child involved.
Reasons are not justifications.

Assuming things and misleading statements may sell but doesn't solve much.

[HEyHEY]

12. If you mean me

I've not assumed anything or mislead statements, I merely asked you to clarify your position, you should learn to heed your own advice. ;-)

And what if a child wasn't involved?

[CHIMO]

14. There Was

No mention anywhere that I could find that stated that the union workers cut the phone lines.

You asked for proof about censorship. I gave it. You say that it doesn't hold anymore but offer no backup.

I didn't condone anything and you assume that I am implying violence is OK.

I point out the use of children being used as a justification for everything and now you want to know if violence is approved?

No! Dam it.

But there are many faces of violence.

[HEyHEY]

15. Ta ta

"No mention anywhere that I could find that stated that the union workers cut the phone lines.

You asked for proof about censorship. I gave it. You say that it doesn't hold anymore but offer no backup."

I didn't say it doesn't hold up, I said it doesn't happen now that Izzy is dead, my source on that is a personal conversation with someone very high up in Canwest. So, I can't offer an article to show you.

The telus thing, doesn't poitn specifically it's workers, but the writing of the article sets up it's a dispute between workers and telus before going into the meat,.

I was merely asking you to clarify your point when I asked you if condone the violence in the dispute. There was no intention of accusations.

[HEyHEY]

13. By the way

Another story just popped up, a phone line in Burnaby has been cut.

This will get even more ugly.

[V. Kid]

16. It's really qutie ridiculous that this dispute has gotten this far...

...the two sides have had years to come up with an agreement, it's not as if this was a suprise. IIRC the federal negotiatior that was appointed to help ameloriate this dispute, basically said the company has been barging in bad faith. Really, taking a look at their tactics over job security, it really isn't too suprising. Clearly they want to bust the union.

[MrPrax]

17. The Site if anyone is interested...

Telus should be reviewed or boycotted regardless what the members think...this form of censorship is a little too important to be left to the vagaries of collective bargaining...

If your a Telus customer and your up to date, consider being late on your current and touch base with the assholes in August and pay only the arrears...

Disrupt their cash flow...


http://www.voices-for-change.com/index.asp

Mirror for Telus Customers: http://vfc.proxy.pfak.org/index.asp