TORONTO and MONTREAL, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ – Unifor is once again raising concerns about workforce reductions at BCE Inc., commonly known as Bell Canada. The union has received notification of approximately 180 job cuts across its bargaining units, including Bell Atlantic, Clerical, Sales, and BTS Clerical units in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario.
Union Criticizes Bell's Approach
Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed strong disapproval of the company's actions. "As we heard at its most recent Shareholders' Meeting, this company has no stated plan for workforce development and retention," Payne said. "At a time when Canadian corporations should be stepping up to invest in Canada, it continues to barrel forward with cuts, costing families income and security, while continuing to invest heavily in the United States."
To date, the employer is respecting contract obligations regarding layoff notice and severance packages. However, the union notes that most of these cuts fall outside negotiated Voluntary Severance Packages (VSPs), which are included in some Bell collective agreements and allow members to take early retirement when invoked by the employer. Instead, the company has notified the union that at least 120 of the affected workers will face layoffs, disproportionately impacting newer and likely younger employees.
Impact on Workers
Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier emphasized the contradiction between Bell's profitability and its workforce reductions. "Bell continues to cut its workforce while remaining a highly profitable company. Workers' futures should not be mere variables to be leveraged in a race for short-term financial returns," Cloutier stated.
Payne added, "It's becoming increasingly difficult for Bell workers to picture retirement from this company. Bell used to serve as a beacon, delivering high quality services and good jobs, and now seems to not have an interest in either."
Broader Context
Unifor has advocated for actions to protect jobs, build a more resilient economy, and defend Canadian sovereignty. The union is the largest private sector union in Quebec and Canada, representing more than 320,000 members across all sectors of the economy. In Quebec, Unifor represents nearly 55,000 members and is affiliated with the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ).
These job cuts mark another step in what Unifor describes as a "slippery slope" of reductions to Canadian jobs by Bell, raising concerns about the company's commitment to its domestic workforce.
