Contract negotiations between western Canada’s largest phone company, Telus, and its unionized employees in Alberta and B.C. have bogged down over the issue of regional wage parity.

The problem is a hang-over from the merger between Alberta-based Telus and Vancouver-based BC-Tel two years ago.

Under the existing collective agreements (all negotiated before the merger) Telus employees in B.C. are making substantially more than their Alberta counterparts doing the same work.

For example, the starting wage for a Telus customer service representative in B.C. is $18 per hour, compared to a wage of $15 per hour in Alberta.

The wage differential is even higher for operators. In B.C., operators earn a starting wage of $19 per hour, but in Alberta they are paid only $12 per hour.

Not surprisingly, after nine months at the bargaining table, Telus is still refusing to deal with the concerns about wage parity brought forward by the Telecommunication Workers’ Union (TWU), the union representing Telus workers.

But that hasn’t weakened TWU’s resolve to get a better deal for its Alberta members.

"Our goal is to have a collective agreement that covers all Telus workers and ensures that they are valued consistently across the company," says Fran Guillet, senior business agent for TWU in Alberta.

"We believe strongly that all Telus workers should get the same treatment and receive the same kinds of wages and benefits no matter where they work in the country."

Guillet points out that Telus was quick to standardize wages for managers when Telus and B.C. Tel merged – bringing Alberta salaries up to those earned by B.C. executives. The union is simply asking for the same treatment for front-line workers, she says.

The situation regarding regional wage disparities was made even more complicated earlier this year when Telus acquired the Ontario-based wireless company, ClearNet.

None of ClearNet’s 2,600 employees were unionized – and they were paid between $3-4 less per hour than Telus employees from Alberta.

As it stands right now, the former ClearNet employees have been fully integrated into Telus’ operations. But Telus management is refusing to recognize TWU as the bargaining agent for the workers.

In response, TWU has asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to extend the union’s certificate to cover the former ClearNet employees.

The board is still considering this application, but Guillet is confident the workers will be given status as TWU members based on previous rulings.

If Telus is able to maintain wage disparities between provinces, Guillet says the company will inevitably start moving jobs out of its western base and into lower-wage jurisdictions.

"Alberta and B.C. are the provinces where Telus makes its money," says Guillet. "What we’re saying is that the company has an obligation to be a good corporate citizen. And that means investing in decent jobs with decent pay right here."

Telus is one of Canada’s most profitable corporations. Last year it recorded a net profit of $398 million.