Bulletin
BCH – MoveUP Refers MOU #15 Grievances to Arbitration
May 30, 2019
To: All MoveUP members at BC Hydro
As many of you are aware, MoveUP members performing construction and field work under Memorandum of Understanding #15 of your collective agreement face a number of special challenges due to BC Hydro’s interpretation and application of the provisions of MOU #15. As a result, MoveUP has been required to file a disproportionate number of grievances under MOU #15 to try to get the issues addressed.
The grievance procedure under the collective agreement provides the parties with an opportunity to discuss grievances and attempt to reach an agreement without the need for arbitration. As always, our preference is to come to a fair agreement with BC Hydro that reflects the language of the collective agreement and the true intention of the parties. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have exhausted the grievance procedure on a number of MOU #15 grievances without reaching an agreement with BC Hydro.
We have recently referred five (5) MOU #15 grievances to arbitration and have appointed legal counsel to handle the cases. The grievances are currently set to be heard by Arbitrator Corinn Bell in March of 2020. The grievances are all individual grievances – they relate to the rights of an individual employee whose rights were violated by BC Hydro, but the issues in the grievances concern all employees working under MOU #15, including temporary vs. regular employment status, displacement rights, and the right to use banked time to bridge between projects.
While we remain open to discussing these and other grievances with BC Hydro to attempt to find a resolution, we are committed to seeking a fair outcome for our members and are prepared to make our case at arbitration if necessary.
If you believe you have been improperly denied an entitlement under the collective agreement, or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to a Job Steward or Union Representative.
In solidarity,
Tony Geluch, Union Representative