Telecommunications sector workers joining forces to defend their rights at work
USW Local 1944 joined a Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) delegation to Izmir, Turkey, in August, to meet Telus workers.
The Telus workers in Turkey described the challenges of organizing in the global ‘Business Process Outsourcing’ industry. Telus is primarily known in Canada as a provider of phone and internet services. Yet it also employs thousands of workers around the world to provide content moderation and to train Artificial Intelligence for the world’s big tech companies including Google and Meta.
These jobs are typically paid at the minimum wage and can involve viewing disturbing images including violence and sexual abuse. Minimal support is provided for workers whose mental health is affected. Instead, they are pressured to meet high metrics or risk losing their jobs.
Meanwhile, in Canada, Telus has continuously downsized and outsourced thousands of jobs, while subjecting its employees to high-pressure work metrics and digital surveillance. Participants from Local 1944 shared strategies to confront these challenges.
“It was incredible to meet these courageous Telus workers in Turkey, fighting an uphill battle against the company to have their union recognized,” said Local 1944 President Michael Phillips.
“We found a lot of common ground in our discussions, as Telus intensely pressurizes its workers, with little regard for mental safety, both in Turkey and in Canada. It was great to strengthen the bond of global solidarity; we’ll be working very closely together with our Turkish sisters and brothers.”
Building on this fruitful exchange, the SHF is partnering with UNI, the global federation for service-sector workers, to develop programs with telecom workers who share the same employer to ensure they know and can defend their rights at work in an industry that knows no borders.
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