Union and BC Hydro Reach a Tentative Agreement

Union and BC Hydro Reach a Tentative Agreement

November 21, 2012



Agreement includes Wage Increases and Modest Increases to Benefits

Burnaby – The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378 (COPE378) and BC Hydro have reached a tentative agreement. This agreement is subject to ratification by MoveUP’s members at BC Hydro.

The tentative agreement contains an overall four per cent wage lift, staggered throughout the two years of the collective agreement. The collective agreement covers April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014. The union’s bargaining committee is recommending ratification to its members.

“I’m pleased we were able to keep the concessions the employer tabled during bargaining out of the collective agreement,” said MoveUP Vice-President Gwenne Farrell. “BC Hydro came to the table with a raft of items they wanted to reduce, change or take away, including retirees’ benefits and earned lieu days. Now, they may try to come at these in different ways, but with this tentative agreement our benefits stay intact.”

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

  • April 1, 2012 (fully retroactive) – 1 per cent wage increase
  • October 1, 2012 – 1 per cent wage increase
  • April 1, 2013 – 1 per cent wage increase
  • October 1, 2013 – 1 per cent wage increase
  • Modest benefit increases such as expansion of immediate family to bereavement language and favourable changes to length of service

The ratification vote will be held by mail-in ballot.

“While we didn’t make large gains with this agreement, we were able to safeguard what our members currently have and keep their wages close to inflation,” finished Farrell.

MoveUP represents nearly 2,000 inside technical, professional and administrative workers at BC Hydro. The union and the employer have been bargaining since April 2012, not including a summer hiatus.

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Media contact: Sage Aaron, 604-317-6153, saaron@moveuptogether.ca