Langley, April 29, 2025 – Local 258 IBEW’s Master Line Bargaining Committee is pleased to announce that a second tentative agreement, covering a three-year term, has been reached with the signatory employers of the Master Line Agreement. This updated version of the proposed agreement was reached after bargaining resumed following the rejection of the first iteration.

The most notable new change is in regard to wage increases. While the original tentative agreement featured a 12% wage increase split into a one-time increase of 4% and four bi-annual increases of 2%, the bargaining committee was instead able to negotiate three annual increases of 4%.

A key issue throughout this round of bargaining was the employers' push to eliminate the 7.5-hour workday. In response, the union first reached a compromise with a Letter of Understanding (LOU), effectively pausing any headquarters currently on a modified work week from transitioning back to a regular work week for the term of this agreement unless there is mutual consent from both the employer and the union. After the rejection of the first version of the tentative agreement, this LOU was scrapped, and there will be no changes to hours of work.

The following other highlights were included in the previous version of the tentative agreement, but are new compared to the last term of the agreement:

·        New Classifications: Introduction of Hydrovac Operator and Try-a-Trade classifications.

·        Probationary Period: Trades trainees will see a shorter probationary period.

·        Personal Vehicle Use: Employees are no longer required to transport employer tools, equipment, or materials in their personal vehicles.

·        Access to Safety Regulations: Employers must now ensure employees have access to Safety Practice Regulations and WorkSafe regulations/manuals.

·        Layoff Notification: New language establishes clear procedures for notifying employees of layoffs.

·        Termination Protocol: Strengthened language ensures that IBEW members cannot terminate the employment of other IBEW members, except in the case of owner-operators.

·        Reporting Union Dues: Employers are now required to report union dues on employees’ T4 slips.

·        Dues Remittance Process: Streamlined processes for better efficiency of processing employer remitted dues.

·        Leave of Absence: Members elected as Business Manager may now take a leave of absence for their first two terms.

·        Dispatch List: Improved understanding of how dispatch lists relate to the name call process.

·        Shop Stewards: Strengthened language ensures Stewards have time to conduct their union duties.

·        Housekeeping Items: Various updates to clarify and refine contract language.

Details regarding the ratification vote will be provided to membership shortly.

For further information, please contact your bargaining committee members:

Ken Mitchell, Assistant Business Manager

604-880-9630 / kmitchell@ibew258.bc.ca

Jim Greenwell, Senior Assistant Business Manager

604-515-3241 / jgreenwell@ibew258.bc.ca

Nico Geelhoed, Allteck

604-209-7347

Pat Hagel, Arctic Arrow

778-888-6410

David Bentley, Graham Construction/42 West

403-848-4761

Jean-Guy Sinclair, Pacific Electrical Installations

604-996-6437

Master Line MOA April 23 2025.pdf