Bargaining
BC Hydro & Powertech – Bargaining Update # 14 – Tentative Agreement Details
May 29, 2026
To: All MoveUP members at BCH & Powertech
We are very excited to now be able to provide you with the details of Wednesday evening’s tentative agreement reached between your bargaining committee and with BC Hydro on a new collective agreement.
This new agreement contains strong monetary increases and language improvements, and we are unanimously recommending ratification.
We will be scheduling a Townhall prior to the Ratification vote. Details will follow in a separate bulletin.
A questionnaire will be distributed to all members so that they can submit questions in advance of the webinar. We strongly encourage all members to attend.
We thank all of you for your patience and solidarity throughout the bargaining process. Your support and engagement played an important part in helping us achieve this tentative agreement.
You can find the full Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by clicking here. Below are some of the highlights.
Wage increases
- Retroactive to April 1, 2025: 3% increase for all wage rates
- Retroactive to April 1, 2026: 3% increase for all wage rates
- Effective April 1, 2027: 3% increase for all wage rates
- Effective April 1, 2028: 3% increase for all wage rates
RETIREES
- Retroactive wages only to April 1, 2025
Low wage redress and service improvements
- In addition to the general wage increases, upon ratification the salary scales for Job Group 4 to Group 7 will be increased:
- The minimum step will be increased by 2.5% and the maximum step increased by 0.5%. Intermediate steps will be recalculated into equal dollar increment.
- Salary scale for Job Group 8 and above will be adjusted:
- The minimum step removed will immediately increase pay for some employees, provide faster wage progression over time, and create smoother promotional pay increases.
- Market Rate and Wage Step increase adjustments for Design GTTs’s and DTT’s
- Increased wages for co-op students
- Wage Step Protection for seasonal tour guide employees
- Increased paid hours for standby:
- Monday to Thursday: 2 to 3 hours
- Friday: 3 to 4.5 hours
- Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays: 4 to 6 hours
Benefits (see MOA for exact details)
Health Benefit Credit: $300 annually retroactive to April 1, 2025 (for eligible employees), increasing to $575 in 2027.
Benefit improvements effective January 1, 2027:
- Added vaccine coverage ($500 annual maximum)
- Increased Vision care
- Increased hearing aids to $2500
- Increased orthodontic benefits (50%, up to $3500 lifetime maximum)
- Added Laser Eye Surgery (50%, up to $3000 lifetime maximum) for Level 2 & 3
Benefit improvements effective January 1, 2028:
- Expanded mental health coverage to $3500 annually plus pharmacogenetics testing
- Added Occupational Therapy
- Added weight management prescription drugs ($2000 annual maximum)
- Added dental implants (50%, up to $2000 lifetime maximum) for Level 2 & 3
In solidarity,
Your bargaining committee:
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