OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/24/12 -- Today, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Labour Minister, congratulated Bell Canada and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) on ratifying a new collective agreement.

"I am very pleased that Bell Canada and the CEP worked together to reach a new agreement," said Minister Raitt. "Strong labour-management relations favour both parties and benefit the overall economy."

The CEP represents approximately 4 600 craft and services employees working in Quebec and Ontario. These employees are responsible for manual and technical work at Bell Canada. Their previous collective agreement expired on November 30, 2012.

Bell Canada is the country's largest communications company, providing a wide variety of communications services to residential and business customers in Canada.

The agreement was reached with assistance from the Labour Program's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service provides dispute resolution and prevention assistance to trade unions and employers under the jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

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