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4 August, 2021
Dear Member;
We just received confirmation of the Labour Board ruling on our Collective Agreement! We are pleased with the positive ruling as it represents a significant improvement from the Corporation’s final offer. Most notably, it also includes a stipend to recognise your front-line contributions to the public!
The Manitoba Labour Board has ruled on 2 of the outstanding items of our Collective Agreement. It establishes the General Wage Increase and the COVID stipend for the agreement between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2034 and Manitoba Hydro between January 1, 2019 and February 4, 2022.
The following General Wage Increases have been imposed by the Labour Board:
- Effective January 1, 2019: 1.5% General Wage Increase
- Effective January 1, 2020: 0.5% General Wage Increase
- Effective January 1, 2021: 1.5% General Wage Increase
As well, the Board has imposed a COVID Special Payment as outlined below:
- The Manitoba government declared a province-wide state of emergency under The Emergency Measures Act on March 20, 2020 to protect the health and safety of all Manitobans and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Given the nature of their roles and responsibilities, many employees in the bargaining unit were not able to perform their work from home during the pandemic and have been exposed to additional risks, hazards, and hardships. In recognition of these circumstances, the Corporation will make a one-time special payment of $1.00 per hour worked from March 20, 2020 to July 31, 2021, up to a maximum of $1,250.00, to each employee in the bargaining unit who worked at least 30% of their time outside their home during that period of time.
Example of what members could expect for upcoming retroactive payments based on a couple different annual earnings (and assuming the Covid Stipend applies) are as follows::
- Annual earnings of $50,000 could expect approximately $4300.00
- Annual earnings of $75,000 could expect approximately $5800.00
- Annual earnings of $100,000 could expect approximately $7400.00
Other gains in working conditions had already been achieved by your Bargaining Team. Some of these were:
- A one time allocation of 80 hours to Sick Leave Balances for IBEW field-based/front-line employees who in fiscal year 2020-2021 have worked at least 30% of their time in the field/office vs. home environment (These days have no cash value and will not result in the 246-day limit being exceeded). Reinstatement of sick leave will take place within 60 calendar days following ratification of the Collective Agreement.
- All IBEW employees will receive 7.92 hours credited to sick leave on a one-time only basis, within 60 calendar days following ratification of the Collective Agreement. This day is being provided in lieu of providing employees with time off during working hours for vaccination purposes. These hours also do not have cash value and will also not result in the 246-day limit being exceeded.
Vacation and Overtime Provisions
a) Starting in 2022, during a defined period of time set by the Corporation, the Corporation will once again allow IBEW employees to direct vacation credits to banked vacation without requiring there to be 20 days of carryover first available.
b) In the fiscal year 2021/22, the Corporation will allow IBEW employees to cash out up to 15 vacation days on a one-time only basis (related to COVID-19). The current maximum is 10 days for each fiscal year. All other aspects of P522 will continue to apply.
Wellness Days
Employees will be eligible to use a maximum of 2 days of sick leave per fiscal year for wellness purposes.
Fitness Subsidy Program to include the following items:
-Online fitness and mental wellness services (Apps) such as Peloton, Weight Watchers, Calm, Beach Body, Deep Sleep, Anxiety Reliver, Yoga, Tai Chi, etc.
-Home exercise equipment and wellness accessories, and
-Applications for fitness activities (in club setting etc.) or team sports.
The Fitness Subsidy Program will be added to the Collective Agreement. Program eligibility will be in accordance with P527, which, among other things, indicates that Manitoba Hydro will reimburse up to a maximum of $250 per calendar year of eligible expenses. The subsidy, or any unused portion, cannot be carried forward into the next year.
On account of COVID-19, the Fitness Subsidy will be increased on a one-time only basis in calendar year 2021 by $100 for a total of $350. In calendar year 2022 and beyond, it will revert back to $250.
Health Spending Account
On a one-time only basis, for active IBEW employees only, the Corporation is prepared to increase the HSA value for calendar year 2021 in an amount equal to the average unused portion per IBEW employee for 2020. For example, if the average employee in the IBEW jurisdiction utilized only $400 in 2020, the 2021 HSA will be $700.The adjusted HSA limit in 2021 will become available for employee use within 60 calendar days following ratification of the Collective Agreement.
The average unused HSA balance for 2020 in the IBEW jurisdiction is $274.80.The HSA limit for 2022 will revert to $550.00.
Various improvements to the Hours of Work for Locations North of the 53rd Parallel.
This has been a hard-fought battle, and we have made gains far in excess of the Corporation’s stated position. This could only come about through the efforts and solidarity of you the members. Our collective efforts are what made these gains possible and everyone involved is to be thanked and congratulated.
While we did not reach all of our goals, we should not be discouraged. Your reasonable demands, your professionalism, and your courage in sticking with the fight when things got tough have paid off. The gains in your contract will be there each and every year going forward. The pain of your strike days will now be eased knowing that you have gained more through solidarity than you lost during time off. We will be monitoring closely the implementation of the Board's directives which will take some time. Your patience is appreciated.
We know that there will be other struggles down the road. But let the events of this negotiation be instructive to all of us. When we seek a fair outcome, we can prevail if we stand together.
In solidarity,
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