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Telus Censoring Evil Unions For You!
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» neoform replied on Mon Jul 25, 2005 @ 8:21am |
 Coolness: 339860 | [ www.edmontonsun.com ]
Telus (ISP) has blocked access to a union-run website, claiming it posted confidential information and was attempting to harass and intimidate workers by publishing their pictures. The Voices for Change site, operated by members of the Telecommunications Workers Union, has been effectively closed to all customers with [ telus.net ] or [ telus.com ] accounts. Internet users who subscribe to other service providers can still browse the site. "They're restricting our members' free speech," said Mimi Williams, who said she was offended both as a customer and as an elected representative of TWU Local 207. "Any impediment of our members' rights to free speech and right to freedom of association causes me grave concern." Williams has filed a complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), appealing to the federal agency to investigate further. Drew McArthur, vice-president of corporate affairs for Telus, confirmed the blockage. He said the decision was based on a concern that the site was carrying confidential "proprietary information" about Telus; he would not elaborate. He also said that, by posting photos of staff and managers crossing picket lines, the website threatened the safety of non-union employees. And he claimed the site was encouraging visitors to telephone Telus call centres and tie up lines with bogus concerns. "They had no right to post that information," said McArthur. "We have a responsibility to protect our employees from harassment and intimidation. "Our most prominent concern is the safety of our team members and our employees who are trying to provide customer service in light of strike activity." McArthur says the company has the right to block access to certain sites under a service agreement it has with customers. He refused to say how many people would be unable to view the site. Allison Kuzyk, business agent with TWU, was angered to learn that Telus had blocked the website. "They forget we're not just employees, we're shareholders and customers," she said. As the Telus strike-lockout entered its third day yesterday, tension between the phone company and its union grew. Kuzyk added she'd heard from four union members who claim their phone service was being disrupted. She said they reported lines suddenly going dead and calls being shunted automatically to voice mail. But McArthur called the accusation "categorically untrue." He also denied suggestions Telus was planning to move Canadian jobs to the Philippines, where it owns a call centre. The centre, said McArthur, services multinational customers and is separate from the Canadian operation. "It's just the ongoing misinformation and fear-mongering the union engages in," he said. Sanjeev Anand, associate professor in the faculty of law at the University of Alberta, said there have been cases where telecommunication companies have restricted access to sites - for example, when they spread hate messages. He added site-blocking is a poor strategy, since other computer users can easily gain access to the same sites. |
Telus Censoring Evil Unions For You!
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