The union representing 225 electrical workers says it appears a merry Christmas won’t be possible unless the “grinch” grows a heart.

Last week’s round of negotiations between FortisBC and its workers failed . . . again.

According to the International Union of Electrical Workers Local 213, the company is refusing to compromise while demanding more concessions.

Union spokesman Scott Ross said the dispute began over minor differences, but with added demands, “it appears FortisBC has ulterior motives to locking out its workers.”

But FortisBC communications director Joyce Wagenaar said the company has invited the union to “binding interest arbitration,” a process that would see a third party provide a binding decision on all outstanding items. The arbitrator’s decision would be final and the outcome would become the new collective agreement.

“We look forward to the union accepting this offer so that the ongoing labour dispute can come to an end,” Wagenaar said.

If the union and/or its members accept this arbitration deal, employees would immediately return to work, she pointed out.

Ross said the union is consulting its bargaining committee and its members about this arbitration offer.

“The decision is difficult because in prior arbitration the company only brought additional new demands.”

Ross said the union is also distressed because it told FortisBC it would accept the same modest contract that the company signed with its office workers, but Fortis refused.

“Effectively, FortisBC rejected its own offer.”

Wagenaar said that after two days of negotiations failed, it became apparent that binding arbitration was the path needed to reach a settlement.

Ross said negotiations collapsed 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.

Russell said the union brought three proposals to the table. One was a basic, back-to-work agreement that included minimal wage increases of 2.5, 2, 2, 2.5 and 2.5 per cent. But the company said no.

Russell said another proposal included a compromise on the mandatory compressed work week. All workers would be forced to be on the compressed work week if 50 per cent plus one of the crew voted for it, or if 75 per cent of the workers’ headquarters voted for it.

Russell said the company already agreed to a five per cent premium as compensation for working the longer 10-hour day, which would significantly encourage workers to vote for it. But the company rejected this compromise, Russell said.

“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.”

But Wagenaar said the company has offered its employees an increase in wages with no changes to benefits. “Our proposed productivity improvements provided additional premium pay with no concessions to wages or benefits.”

Wagenaar said Fortis viewed the union’s recent proposals as “problematic,” so an agreement could not be reached.

She stated that certain employees work the four-day work week, and the company is looking at implementing this more broadly.

Wagenaar said the System Control Centre is viewed as an essential service that needs to be maintained during any labour disruption.

“If that norm was challenged, our costs would increase to customers, so we want to retain that norm.”

But Russell noted that FortisBC plans to raise rates another 19 per cent by 2018.

“For FortisBC . . . 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.”

 

Lyonel Doherty

Oliver Chronicle