COMMENT: IBEW 213 blasts Fortis BC for ongoing lockout
By Contributor
Ed. Note: The following is an opinion piece provided by The IBEW Union.
Unless a Grinch’s heart grows, this story of 225 locked out electrical workers won’t have a very merry ending. The latest round of negotiations between FortisBC and its electrical workers have failed; all but ensuring 225 workers will be locked out for the holiday season.
The two-day negotiation ended early this afternoon as FortisBC continued to refuse to compromise, choosing instead to demand more concessions from its workers before the utility will end its lockout. The Union is troubled, because this lockout began over minor differences, but by only adding demands, it appears FortisBC has ulterior motives to locking out its workers.
Since locking out its electrical employees FortisBC has continued to only add more requirements for a deal to be done. Negotiations collapsed today because the company will not budge from two significant demands: a mandatory compressed work week which entails longer working days for less money, and the Union’s surrender of its legal right to labour action in the System Control Centre.
“After suffering six months without pay, the Union wanted its members back to work so at least Christmas could be a happy time spent with their family,” said Rod Russell, Assistant Business Manager of IBEW Local 213. “Seeking to be flexible, three proposals were brought to the table. One was the same, identical deal FortisBC signed yesterday with COPE 378, its office workers, and the company said no. The second proposal was a basic, plain back-to-work agreement, that included only minimal wage increases of 2.5%-2%-2%-2.5%-2.5%, no other changes, and the company said no.”
“Though it would be hard for workers with young families, the third proposal included a compromise on the mandatory compressed work week. All workers would be forced to be on the compressed work week if 50%+1 of the crew voted for it or if 75% of the workers’ headquarters voted for it. The company had already agreed to a 5% premium as compensation for working the longer 10 hour day which would significantly encourage workers to vote for it. However FortisBC rejected this compromise,” said Russell.
“If these demands of a compressed work week and giving up right to strike were so important for FortisBC, why didn’t the company bring them up earlier? Why did FortisBC only make these demands months after its workers were locked out? It looks to me like FortisBC isn’t interested in a deal or compromise; it just wants its workers locked out until FortisBC can get whatever it wants.”
“For 225 workers across the southern interior who haven’t seen a paycheque in six months, Christmas is going to be really tough. For FortisBC which has saved over $7 million dollars and is only raising rates another 19% by 2018, I don’t think Christmas matters much. Except of course for its CEO, who will take in another $1.4 million. He’ll certainly be jolly, while his workers are freezing and his customers are paying more.”
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