The union that represents 500 employees with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says negotiations toward a new collective agreement are not going well.
Bob Clarke, business manager with with Local 1615 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), says the two groups are far apart on issues such as wages, a job classification system and hours of work.
Clarke said Local 1615 has never gone on strike, but he said the impasse is "definitely putting workers on the rocky road."
The union is asking for the same template used by the provincial government in reaching contracts with civil servants - 20 per cent over four years - in recent years.
Hydro, which is a subsidiary of Nalcor, a Crown Corporation, is offering increases of three, three, three and three-and-a-half per cent over four years.
Clarke said the corporation is also offering "adjustments" to some groups, but noted this will still not bring Hydro workers on par with their Atlantic Canada counterparts, or even utility workers with Newfoundland Power.
The collective agreement expired on March 31, and both sides have exchanged proposals and held talks in recent weeks.
But an agreement has been elusive, and both sides will now go to conciliation, with a week of talks scheduled to being July 26.
Clarke said Hydro workers endured the same wage restraints as other public sector workers for most of the last decade, and should be entitled to be rewarded in much the same fashion.
Union says contract talks with Nalcor not going well
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Published on
June 17, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Dave
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:03:24
Has anyone ever heard of a union saying 'talks' were going well? These 'talks' are the only chance that union types get to do their grandstanding and posturing to try to justify their ridiculous salaries.
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- Taxpayer
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:51:26
Unions get higher wages for employees and other benefits. Then the employees go out and spend their money at sukie businesses that are always complaining. Does that explain it to you Jon?
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- Jon
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:40
When does anything ever go well when a union is involved?
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- Jon
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:43:32
Nope, doesn't really explain much Taxpayer. What businesses are always complaining? Only people I ever hear complaining are the union types: 20% raise isn't enough, 4 breaks a day isn't enough, not getting paid overtime rates, don't get a month vacation a year, etc., etc.
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- Dave
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:52:01
Has anyone ever heard of a union saying 'talks' were going well? These 'talks' are the only chance that union types get to do their grandstanding and posturing to try to justify their ridiculous salaries.
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- Taxpayer
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:35:00
Unions get higher wages for employees and other benefits. Then the employees go out and spend their money at sukie businesses that are always complaining. Does that explain it to you Jon?
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- Jon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:31:52
When does anything ever go well when a union is involved?
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- Jon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:21:44
Nope, doesn't really explain much Taxpayer. What businesses are always complaining? Only people I ever hear complaining are the union types: 20% raise isn't enough, 4 breaks a day isn't enough, not getting paid overtime rates, don't get a month vacation a year, etc., etc.
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