Bargaining
BCH + Powertech – Bargaining Update # 4 – Collective Bargaining begins at BC Hydro this fall
September 24, 2025
To: All MoveUP members at BCH & Powertech
We hope you all had an enjoyable summer. As we move into the fall, bargaining with your employer will begin in earnest and we want to provide you with updates on our progress, as well as some context on broader developments across the public sector
When will we return to the bargaining table?
Your bargaining committee has dates scheduled for October 15-16, November 25-27, and December 2-3.
Why has it taken this long to start bargaining?
As mentioned in our last bulletin dated June 25, 2025, we wanted to start bargaining as soon as your last collective agreement expired, and we had originally scheduled bargaining to begin in June.
However, your employer cancelled those dates due to their inability to negotiate monetary proposals without a mandate from the Public Sector Employers’ Council (PSEC). The IBEW commenced bargaining in June; however, it was short lived as BC Hydro would not move forward without a PSEC mandate in place.
How has our bargaining committee been preparing?
Your bargaining committee met regularly to develop proposals that reflect our membership’s priorities for this round of bargaining. We have relied heavily on input from the survey, emails, and phone calls, and have formulated proposals based on that feedback.
We are very grateful for all your participation.
What will we be asking for in our proposals?
We want enhancements in all areas of your collective agreement, focusing on wages, benefits, job security such as contracting out, and MOU 15 to name a few. We anticipate your employer will come to the table with a moderate list of proposals. Be assured that we will not accept any concessions (i.e. cutbacks).
Based on how other public sector unions have approached bargaining to date, we expect this to be one of the most challenging and contentious bargaining processes our BC Hydro members have faced in quite some time. Nevertheless, we remain confident, committed, and determined to secure a fair contract on your behalf. Please note that the PSEC retains final authority over wage decisions.
Is PSEC related to what’s been happening with the BCGEU strike?
PSEC sets the wages for all public sector bargaining in the province. That is why all public sector unions are looking to see which public sector union comes to an agreement first and what the monetary framework will be.
The BCGEU’s ongoing strike is the result of a wage impasse at the bargaining table. Public sector unions, including ours, have emphasized that a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is essential to help members manage the rising costs caused by inflation.
In solidarity,
Anderson Charles, Executive Board Member
Kim McInroy, Executive Board Member
Andrea McKenna, Executive Board Member
Kelly Cammack, Executive Councillor
Carol Brown, Executive Councillor
Luc Vail, Executive Councillor
Mike Novak, Union Representative
Rysa Kronebusch, Vice President, Utilities