16 June, 2022

Dear Member;

Unifor 681 met with Manitoba Hydro yesterday at which time Hydro indicated that it would not be able to meet the Wednesday deadline to come back with an offer.  In response,  Unifor Local 681 will be going on strike starting Friday June 17 beginning at 6:30 AM.   Unifor gave notice to the Corporation yesterday that it will be conducting a rotating strike that is similar to the one IBEW modeled last spring.
 
DAY 1
 
Strike Activity (Winnipeg)
 

• Unifor will kick off its strike activity with a press conference at the rear of 360 Portage Ave. (Hydro Building), where it will have a couple of National Representatives flying in to speak as well as Adrian Sala (NDP Hydro Critic) and Victor Diduch (Unifor President).
• All Unifor members will picket the 360 Portage Ave. location and will have 2 strike shifts that day from 11:30 hrs. to 15:30 hrs. and 14:30 hrs. to 18:30 hrs.
• In the days that follow,  Unifor will also be picketing other locations in Winnipeg as well as 360 Portage Ave.

 Strike Activity (Rural)

• Unifor will be picketing at the following rural locations at around 15:00 hrs. to show support for our local the same time as in Winnipeg:

• Brandon  - Steinbach - Portage - Dauphin - Morden - Russell  - Virden - Neepawa – Selkirk

 
Friday will be a big day and IBEW members are encouraged to show strong support for our brothers and Sisters at Unifor!
 
IBEW has met with the Corporation over the past week to address concerns regarding potential strike activity with a view to minimizing the placement of our members in conflict. 

Some Questions and Concerns Raised from IBEW members regarding upcoming activity include:

• Can I cross a picket line to go to work?   Answer - Yes,  IBEW members are permitted to cross picket lines to go do IBEW work, respecting picket lines and whatever delays may be incurred. Members are reminded that they should inform the Unifor picket captain of their need to cross the line in order to do their work.  At that time they should inform him or her that they will not be doing any Unifor work.
• My supervisor told me I should get to work early to avoid delays as a result of a picket line.  Answer - If your supervisor makes this expectation of an employee, the employee will be encouraged to submit OT for additional time required. 
• What if I am late getting into the office or work location as a result of a picket line?  Answer – This is 100% acceptable and it's normal for staff to encounter this as a result of strike action.
• Can my supervisor ask me to do work that is not traditionally IBEW and considered Unifor work?  Answer – Absolutely not!  We will support our Unifor Sisters and Brothers and honour their labour action.

In solidarity,

Business Manager
IBEW Local Union 2034