VANCOUVER -- TELUS and the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) have reached a memorandum of settlement related to the work stoppage at TELUS which began on July 21. The memorandum contains the terms of the five-year collective agreement that will now be submitted to TWU members for ratification. The TWU is recommending its members accept the agreement.

Subject to ratification, this memorandum of settlement concludes the five year process of merging six separate collective agreements into one. The tentative contract covers a national bargaining unit of approximately 14,000 employees, predominantly located in British Columbia and Alberta. It provides TELUS and its team members the flexibility to compete on a level playing field and maintain TELUS' Canadian telecom leadership position in data, Internet Protocol, and wireless. TELUS and the TWU believe this tentative agreement represents a collective and constructive way forward.

"I am grateful that, together, we were able to negotiate an agreement that benefits TELUS, our team members, our customers and our investors. It is my hope and desire that this marks the beginning of a positive and cooperative relationship," said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS Corporation. "Reaching an agreement has been a long and complex process, but I am convinced the outcome will help enshrine the future success of TELUS and our team. We now have a significant opportunity to move forward with an agreement that recognizes our team members' tremendous contributions and provides TELUS with the flexibility needed to continue our leadership position in a highly competitive market."

"We are pleased that we have been able to reach a negotiated tentative agreement that we feel is good for our members. Their support has allowed us to work hard on their behalf throughout this difficult period," said Bruce Bell, President of the TWU. "We are recommending ratification to our members and will be conducting a ratification vote which is expected to be completed by October 23. I believe ratification will allow the TWU, its members and TELUS to focus on our collective future. Our goal is to conduct the ratification process that shares information on the elements of our agreement with our members to support its acceptance and ultimately have our members back at work as soon as possible."

In order to respect the ratification process and allow the TWU to communicate the details of the offer to its members, TELUS will not be providing further information related to the memorandum of settlement until such time as it is ratified.

Ratification is expected to be completed by October 23. TELUS will, within 72 hours of a positive ratification outcome, begin the process of bringing all team members back to work as expeditiously as possible.

Telus