UPDATE: Local Fortis job action minimal
By Kyra Hoggan
Update:
A 72-hour job action notice that could’ve seen as many as 225 Fortis BC employees, including those here in Castlegar, Trail, South Slocan, Warfield and Rossland, on strike as of Sunday hasn’t amounted to much, according to Fortis spokesman Neal Pobran.
Pobran said no action was taken Sunday, and minimal action is being taken today (Monday).
“Today, there was limited job action that is having no impact on our customers,” he said. “We’re seeing a general work slowdown in generation, which means it’s taking longer to do certain tasks.”
Pobran said there are no new negotiations under way at this time.
Attempts to contact representatives of the union (Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213) have been fruitless so far.
Previous story:
Fortis BC employees from Castlegar, Trail, Rossland, Warfield and South Slocan will likely be taking job action as soon as Sunday, according to Fortis spokesman Neal Pobran.
“FortisBC has received 72 hour strike notice from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, (IBEW) local 213,” he said, adding this local represents 225 Fortis employees.
Pobran said it’s unclear, at this time, what exactly this will mean.
“Job action can take many different forms – refusing overtime, refusing certain tasks – we don’t know what job action will look like at this time. We’re in a wait-and-see mode.”
He said FortisBC and the IBEW 213 have agreed on an essential services order that was issued by the BC Labour Relations Board, so no one need fear the lights will go out Sunday night.
“Essential services are those the Labour Relations Board considers necessary or essential to prevent immediate and serious danger to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of B.C.,” he said. “There is no job action taking place at this time and all FortisBC services are operating as usual.”
He said the type of jobs impacted will be ones like powerline technicians, electricians and system power dispatchers.
In a press release issued this morning, Pobran provided some history regarding the dispute, “FortisBC has been in bargaining since early January 2013, and did present an offer to the IBEW 213 that provided market-competitive general wage increases. FortisBC is not proposing concessions to employee wages, benefits or pensions.
“The current contract with the IBEW expired January 31, 2013.”
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