FortisBC received 72-hour strike notice from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, (IBEW) Local 213, on May 10 and job action could begin this week in the Rossland and Greater Trail region.
Although the company has received no indication as to what, and if any, job action is taking place, all FortisBC services are operating as usual.
FortisBC and the IBEW 213 have agreed on an essential services order that was issued by the BC Labour Relations Board last week.
However, 225 IBEW 213 members—that include electricians, line technicians and system power dispatchers—could still refuse certain tasks under the terms of the board ruling last week, but the power will stay on.
Essential services are those the Labour Relations Board considers necessary or essential to prevent immediate and serious danger to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of British Columbia.
FortisBC has been in bargaining since early January 2013, and did present an offer to the IBEW 213 that provided a general wage increase. FortisBC is not proposing concessions to employee wages, benefits or pensions.
The current contract with the IBEW expired Jan. 31, 2013.