B.C. utility files for essential services plan

Gas workers serve company with strike notice

FortisBC has applied to the B.C. Labour Relations Board for an essential services plan after Local 213 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) began the process towards a strike.

With the request by the natural gas utility before the Board, the union is precluded from acting on its 72-hour notice, which is the final step before a strike, until the essential services plan is final. A union official did not think a strike could start for at least 10 days.

The 550 employees have been without a contract since March 31, 2011. FirstBC claims that its current offer “is market-competitive and consistent with other compensation and benefits within FortisBC.” The union is reportedly unhappy with the two-tier wage demand in the offer.

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