The union, which represents BC Hydro`s electricity workers, refused a preliminary contractual agreement with the utilities, opening the door to possible labor measures. „This was not our experience in public sector negotiations. We know that there are sometimes restrictions on money, so here too there is a reality that we have to face. But honest and respectful trials will result in an agreement and hopefully bring some improvements to officials,” she said. Almost every major public sector union in the province has their renewal contracts in 2019, including nurses and other health care workers, teachers and school staff, public servants, and employees of ICBC and BC Hydro. The majority of public unions in B.C. has seen wage increases below the rate of inflation over the past decade, with many five-year, 5.5 per cent agreements signed during the last term of the B.C Liberal government. Nevertheless, in an earlier statement, McKay said the union had achieved „significant improvements in contract language and performance increases in a three-year agreement.” The union represents more than 2,000 artisans for BC Hydro, who have been without a contract since early April 2019. In its three-year fiscal forecast in Budget 2018, the government did not have an explicit contingency for additional spending related to collective agreements. They wrote, however, that „the cost of ratified collective agreements will be reflected in the 2019 budget.” The union did not provide the exact details of the provisional agreement or the reasons why it was rejected. „We are committed to continuing to work with IBEW management on an agreement,” BC Hydro said. The collective agreement for doctors in the B.C.

is also in the process of expiring. Thompson said the NDP`s record on labor rules was nuanced. „Negotiations with the Liberals have been very, very difficult and, as a result, many workers are lagging behind, both in terms of wages and working conditions. That`s why I think workers will look for improvements,” said Irene Lanzinger, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour. „In the final days of the Glen Clark government, there were a lot of details that seemed a little rich that they were trying to deal with. But on the other hand, there have been very tough negotiations and back-to-work laws that go back to Dave Barrett. That`s what eventually brought him down – he passed back-to-work legislation, and when the election came, many of his working-class friends stayed home. So it cuts in both directions. BC Hydro provides electricity to drive economic growth in British Columbia. The main activity is the production and distribution of electricity. MoveUP has represented employees at BC Hydro since 1962 and since 1955 with its predecessor, The BC Electric Company. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 258 said it counted members` mail-in votes wednesday and that 63 percent of voters rejected the deal.

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