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Canada Utility Mergers Net New IBEW Members

November 2005 IBEW Journal

While Ontario’s government has set about streamlining the vast province’s utility distribution network in the past five years, Toronto Local 636 has taken advantage of the consolidation to pick up hundreds of new members.

The mergers—which have so far consolidated 307 utilities into 93—have resulted in representation elections pitting the IBEW against other unions.

“We have been very successful over the past couple years in winning almost every one of the votes,” said Local 636 Business Manager Rick Wacheski. After union presentations and elections, the IBEW has defeated such unions as the Power Workers Union and the Canadian Auto Workers. “When given a choice, brothers and sisters choose the IBEW.”

The local picked up 120 members last summer with the reconstituted PowerStream utility, an amalgamation of Markham Hydro, Richmond Hill Hydro and Vaughn Hydro. PowerStream workers have just ratified their first contract.

Most recently, 80 members joined Local 636 after a merger of Hamilton Hydro and St. Catharines Hydro, forming Horizon Utilities Corporation.

Mergers will continue and might be mandatory since provincial officials have stated a final goal of nine or 10 utilities serving everyone in Ontario, Wacheski said.