FortisBC gas and electric workers voted to approve strike mandates in July, but a union spokesperson said that any potential job action is more than a month away at this point.
A release issued by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 213 on Tuesday, Aug. 12 said that around 580 workers in Fortis’ gas operations had voted 99.4 per cent in favour of strike action while around 210 workers on the electrical side had voted 84.1 per cent in favour.
The gas workers have been without a contract since April 2024 and the electric workers since February 2023.
Reached by phone on Wednesday, Aug. 13, IBEW 213 business manager Jim Lofty said 20 gas-side workers in the Prince George region could be affected if strike action is taken. Fortis’ electric operations in BC are largely restricted to the Kootenays.
“Our members were telling us for the last six months we need to take a strike vote, we need action,” Lofty said.
“We told them that we were still negotiating, so we were still in that process and weren’t willing to take those kinds of leaps yet. But we reached some impasses and some mediation struggles and frustrations and it was time for us to go to the members and get the mandate.”
He said workers’ concerns include benefits and standby issues.
In some communities, he said, Fortis has removed staff leaving no dedicated workers to cover the area.
“So if, for example, Fortis removes an operator from the Sechelt to Powell River area, they’re now coming over from Vancouver Island to respond,” he said. “They’re taking ferries over. If they miss the ferry they don’t get there and they’re going to come in the morning, so we’re seeing costs go up.”
As the utilities that Fortis provides are considered essential services, Lofty said the union has applied to the BC Labour Relations Board to define what work still needs to take place in the event of strike action.
He said a decision on that application is probably four or so weeks away, meaning that notice of a strike would come afterwards.
However, he said that after the strike vote, Fortis had changed some of their positions and come back with counterproposals.
“So, we’re still in mediation and we’re still negotiating at this time,” he said. “There’s not going to be any immediate job action. This is what we’re trying to focus on. Gas and electricity will flow regardless of a job action once those essential services are established.”
Reached by email, FortisBC senior advisor for corporate communication Diana Sorace said the company is “committed to reaching fair and equitable collective agreements through bargaining with the support of a mediator.”
“While the unions have filed the outcome of their strike votes, no strike notice has been issued. At this time, we are continuing with negotiations.”
