29 May, 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers;

This morning at 9:00 a.m. IBEW 2034 took part in a virtual meeting with Manitoba Hydro’s Vice-President of Human Resources, the Director of Employee Relations, ER Staff, and representatives of the other bargaining units at Hydro.

As you know, we have been meeting with the Corporation and lobbying it to consider alternatives to proposed layoffs for several weeks.  Today’s meeting was to be the first time that the Corporation was going to share with us any progress it had made towards avoiding temporary workforce adjustments. 

We have been persistently urging Hydro to consider various cost saving measures which have included heightened vacancy management and the elimination of contracting out our work, which so many of you have been concerned with. 

I’m happy to report that our perseverance paid off and that the Corporation indicated that it had been able to find additional cost savings to the tune of $3M in vacancy management and $2M in deferred or cancelled contracts.  (Thanks to those of you who’ve taken the time to report instances of needless contracting out of our work.  Your input has been invaluable.)

At the same time as we were receiving these details in our meeting, President Grewal was making an announcement via MPower which I’m sure you’ve all seen.  In her publication, President Grewal publicized an agreement reached with the Corporate Exempt group that would see each employee in that group taking three unpaid days off over the coming eight months.

In one of her paragraphs, President Grewal states that “We have discussed similar options and solutions” with the other bargaining groups and “unions have been asked to respond by Wednesday of next week.”  So, even though this announcement was made publicly without first contacting the union, this is the Corporation’s first official response to our efforts on your behalf.

We’re happy that Hydro has taken some of the ideas we were pushing for and has used them to help reduce the $11 million it needed to find.  Last Friday the Corporation had to recover a shortfall of $11 million.  Today, one week later, it only needs to find $4.3 million in savings, a feat which we know is totally possible.  A week ago, $11 million equated with 600-700 layoffs.  Today, $4.3 million equates to between 225 – 235 potential layoffs.  Things are moving in the right direction, so next week – who knows?

I need to advise all members not to despair at today’s announcement.  The manner in which it was delivered to you by the Corporation was designed to intimidate.  The reality is that the move to less than half of the original ask should be viewed as positive movement. 

We’re still committed to fighting needless workforce adjustments and we’ll continue to provide Hydro with alternatives to temporary layoffs which are both achievable and positive.  Only once we’ve exhausted all options possible will we be in a position to bring back something to the membership for its approval or rejection.  Our goal always has been, and continues to be, no temporary layoffs of any kind.

We’re committed to working collaboratively with Hydro towards our target, and we’ll continue to work for your very best interests.

In solidarity,

Business Manager
IBEW Local Union 2034