Human Resources committee  Yes, one hundred per cent. During COVID, most of the telcos received all kinds of what I'll call bonuses, but in the meantime, they were doing things that were not very conducive to helping workers. We should really be tying government contracts to jobs in Canada, jobs in everybody's community.

Human Resources committee  I'm going to be very blunt here. In 2005, when we were locked out, Telus turned on their first overseas call centre. We have video footage of it. Telus said they were only doing it to give the folks onshore a break, because they'd locked out their employees. However, the truth of the matter is that there are more and more offshore centres.

Human Resources committee  On the worry, I don't even think I quite have words, frankly. I'm a worker who was locked out in 2005, and I have bargained against Telus since then once I became president. There's not much of a hammer, quite frankly. Unions typically want to “rah-rah” their members and say no to concessions, but honestly, that's all we ever take, and we have no choice because not only will we be replaced by scabs, but they will probably not ever have us back.

Human Resources committee  Thank you for your question. I appreciate it. Back in 2005 when we were locked out by Telus, instead of meeting all of our demands, they opted to pay, we estimate, over three times the cost for scab labour. They certainly can afford and have the ability to pay. I would just throw out there that when we're locked out and there is no consequence, there is indeed anti-union animus and it goes against the charter, quite frankly.

Human Resources committee  Having not heard from independent Smith, maybe he'd like to start.

Human Resources committee  Yes, certainly. Just to be clear, I am in the telecom sector, so I wouldn't be an expert on that, but I am an expert on being a worker. I come from the shop floor, for over 30 years. Dumping absolutely takes jobs away from our steel sector, and, by the way, it makes a very poor product.

Human Resources committee  Thank you for the opportunity to join you today to talk about this vital piece of legislation. I'm Donna Hokiro, president of Local 1944 of the United Steelworkers. Our local union represents over 5,000 members across Canada, mostly federally regulated in the telecom sector. Allow me to start with this: No one goes on strike for the fun of it—nobody.