ABSBC Repatriation to BC Hydro

BC Hydro is bringing the work it outsourced to Accenture Business Services BC (ABSBC) back into the utility. This is the right move for our members at BC Hydro and ABSBC, and for the overall health and stability of the utility.

In 2002 BC Hydro outsourced services considered outside its primary business of generating and delivering electricity. This resulted in a third of our members at BC Hydro going from BC Hydro to ABSBC effective April 1, 2003.

BC Hydro advises us that the business environment has changed, and in keeping with their focus on employees being accountable for customer service, they wanted to explore how to they could perform these services internally.  

As part of exploring all options, the utility approached us under the condition of confidentiality to explore bringing most of ABSBC’s operations and employees back into BC Hydro.

Our members at both BC Hydro and ABSBC have been clear with us that their preference would be a repatriated utility. With that in mind we began these discussions.

We’ve negotiated the best possible repatriation for our members at BC Hydro and ABSBC, and are glad to see the utility made whole. We firmly believe this is the best outcome for our members and their careers, as well as BC Hydro’s customers.

Some details still need to be worked out and we know you will have questions.. BC Hydro will host a website with Frequently Asked Questions which will be updated on an ongoing basis. We will be posting our own FAQs on union issues for both our BC Hydro and ABSBC members early next week at this website: https://moveuptogether.ca/repatriation.  We will also be in regular contact with our union stewards and councillors throughout this process.

We will be holding a series of in-person meetings for BC Hydro and ABSBC members over the next few weeks. The first set of meetings will be held in Metro Vancouver next week, and then union representatives will be visiting BC Hydro and ABSBC employees throughout the rest of the province in the following two weeks. More information with the exact dates, times and locations will follow soon.

We look forward to meeting with you face-to-face to talk about the repatriation and to answer any questions you may have. In the interim, email repatriation@moveuptogether.ca with any questions you may have.

Repatriation is the right move. We will continuing to advocate for you while working with all parties on a smooth transition.

In solidarity,

David Black, President
Gwenne Farrell, Vice-President
Brad Bastien, Senior Union Representative