Ontera's Steelworker Local 1976 Union Ratify A New Collective Agreement With Ontario Northland

    NORTH BAY, ON, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - The Company, Ontario Northland and Ontera,
and the Steelworkers Union Local 1976 announced today the ratification of a
new collective agreement by 105 Local 1976 members, with 87 per cent of
members voting in favor of accepting the new contract.
    Ron Marleau, District 6 Vice President for the Local, commented, "I am
very satisfied with the outcome and our members have indicated they are
pleased as well with a strong vote of support; I am also pleased with the way
the company and union worked together to reach a deal without deadlines."
    "It is a wonderful conclusion to end the year, a new collective agreement
which benefits our employees and our company," said Steve Carmichael,
President and CEO of Ontario Northland, "as with the other collective
agreements in 2008, this agreement will allow us to remain competitive as we
work to meet the telecommunication needs of Northeastern Ontario."
    The collective agreement covers 105 unionized employees working in
Customer Care, Operator Services, Help Desk, Outside Plant and Technical
classifications at various locations in Northeastern Ontario.
    A tentative agreement was reached on November 28, 2008 and ratified on
December 19, 2008.

    Ontario Northland, an operational enterprise of the Province of Ontario,
was established in 1902 and is a recognized leader in creating prosperity in
the North by providing innovative transportation and telecommunication
solutions. Ontera, a company of Ontario Northland, is a fully integrated
telecommunications company which offers a wide range of telecommunications and
IP-based solutions including internet, local, long distance, voice, data, and
information technology services throughout Northern Ontario. Ontario Northland
operates primarily in northeastern Ontario.

For further information:

For further information: Media Inquiries, please contact: Ron Marleau,
District 6 Vice President, Steelworkers Union Local 1976, (705) 495-4161 ext
437 or (705) 495-2718, cell: (705) 845-8004; Tricia Marshall, Ontario
Northland, (705) 472-4500 or 1-800-363-7512 ext. 529, cell: (705) 845-8005