Bulletin
MoveUP and BC Hydro Agree to Temporary Promotion for Site C Workers
July 20, 2018
To: MoveUP Members at BC Hydro Site C
We write to follow up to our visit to Site C on June 25th. At that meeting, we provided an update on the issues and grievances we currently have outstanding relating to Site C and MOU #15, as well as under your collective agreement generally. We also had an opportunity to hear from you regarding your concerns.
One issue that several of you indicated was important to you was that you had moved yourselves and your families in order to take work at Site C, and the company was now in some circumstances flying in and flying out workers who were headquartered in different locations to perform work at Site C. You indicated that you did not consider this to be fair, as many of you would prefer a fly-in, fly-out arrangement. We explained the right of the company to direct its workforce, but also acknowledged your frustrations and advised that we would discuss the issue with the company.
We are pleased to report that the company indicated it appreciated the particular challenges Site C workers face. We were able to reach an agreement whereby MoveUP employees who report to the Site C and reside or relocate to the Peace River Regional district will receive a temporary promotion of 5% of base salary, retroactive to April 1, 2018. Please note that employees who are no longer employed on the Site C project, who reside or relocate outside of the Peace River Regional District, or who go on an extended leave of absence will lose eligibility for the temporary promotion.
As discussed at our meeting, the union also agreed in June of this year to an expansion of the Travel Incentive program for MoveUP employees headquartered at Site C. The Travel Incentive is in addition to the temporary promotion discussed above. It provides a cash benefit to employees based on typical airfare to and three nights’ hotel stay in Vancouver, and varies depending on location of the employee and the number of dependent family members.
We hope that these additional benefits address some of the concerns you have raised. We recognize that there are still ongoing issues to be addressed, and we will continue to work hard to advance the interests of MoveUP members at Site C and throughout BC Hydro.
In solidarity,
Tony Geluch
Union Representative