Posted November 19, 2021 at 3:30 pm

As the first deadline date of Monday, November 22nd approaches for BC Hydro’s Vaccine Mandate policy, the Union has been receiving limited requested information from the Crown Corporation.
”The information we have received is limited to showing reporting rates – no names or other personally identifying information has been revealed,” says Doug McKay, Local 258 IBEW Business Manager/Financial Secretary. “BC Hydro employees have been asked to report their vaccine status using a secure internal online tool by indicating they have received one dose, two doses or have not been vaccinated.
We filed a policy grievance on this new employer policy. We have met with the employer and the Union has identified where the policy conflicts with the collective agreement, specifically Art. 31 Safety Practices, Art. 25 Leaves, Art. 22 Vacation Entitlement, as well as being an unreasonable exercise of management rights. As well, we have asked that the implementation dates be pushed back. We have advised BC Hydro that arbitrators will likely consider recent decisions by some school boards, utilities and other employers in British Columbia and other jurisdictions where vaccine mandates for affected employees are not being required or there is a testing alternative when high vaccination rates are evident in specific workplace and in the general population.
The Union anticipates that the vaccination rate of BC Hydro employees will reflect the British Columbia rate of 91% for single dose and 86% for double vax.
The Union has requested an expedited response from the employer, which we hope to get by end of business today, at which point further actions will be considered.
Members working at BC Hydro who are legitimately unable to be vaccinated are reminded they can apply to qualify for medically-approved or religion-based exemptions.
The new Vaccine Mandate Policy came into effect after being announced by BC Hydro on October 7th and requires all employees to show proof of vaccination with at least one dose (revised from the original requirement of two doses) by no later than November 22nd –  next Monday – when employees without proof of vaccination will be suspended without pay.
Contractors working with BC Hydro are currently expected to show employee proof of vaccination by January 10, 2022.