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Electrical Trade Bargaining
Agency
The Electrical Trade Bargaining Agency (ETBA) is the exclusive bargaining agent representing ECAO contractors in their negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction Council of Ontario (IBEW-CCO). The ETBA is made up of one representative from each of the area ECAs as well as one representative from the line contractors committee, the ICA and EPSCA. The ETBA negotiates and administers the provincial agreement with the IBEW-CCO and represents the interests of unionized electrical contractors with government and various industry tribunals.
Collective Agreement
During the past year, the ETBA renegotiated the No Strike/No Lockout agreement (Joint Proposal) with the IBEW-CCO. The process was complicated by the IBEW demand to negotiate language prior to renewal of the Joint Proposal. At the end of the process, language issues primarily related to communications work were deferred for discussion to the first year of the new agreement.
A key concern of the IBEW was the subcontracting of communications, high voltage and other ancillary electrical work to non-signatories. While no language was agreed to, this matter will be an on-going concern between the parties.
The Principal Agreement was renewed across the table without the need for arbitration. The settlement of $3.80 ($1.10, 1.35, 1.45) represents a cumulative increase of 8.23% over the three year contract.
As in the past, the Joint Proposal includes a post-negotiations wage adjustment mechanism which may increase the rate if other trades settle higher than the electrical does. An adjustment, if any, takes effect May 1, 2008 or later as determined by the Electrical Trade Joint Board.
The ETBA was required to intervene in a number of OLRB cases in 2007, many involving the use of the General Presidents’ Agreement on work covered by the Principal Agreement. There are on-going cases related to inside/outside jurisdiction and age discrimination (the over 50 clause) which the ETBA stated in negotiations is void.
The ETBA has reviewed its responsibilities under the ECAO strategic plan and will re-issue Managing under the Collective Agreement, develop a grievance data base, and continue research for use in negotiations and market recovery efforts including Local Area Modifications.
The first Local Area Modification application was filed under the collective agreement in 2006. The application was filed on behalf of Niagara Peninsula ECA applying for significant relief for commercial work. Though the contractors bound to the agreement have only 25% market share in the area on such work, the arbitrator denied the application. Regardless of the negative decision in this first case, the ETBA will continue to file Local Area Modifications wherever the need arises.
Renewal of the Joint Proposal (No Strike/No Lockout)
Prior to establishing the formal bargaining agenda, the ETBA and the IBEW-CCO renewed the Joint Proposal. The no strike accord must be renewed by the parties and ratified by the area ECAs and the IBEW members before each round of negotiations.
The Joint Proposal was ratified on December 13, 2006 by more than 80% of the IBEW members and 10 of the 13 area ECA.
Through expiry of the current agreement in 2010, the industry will have been strike-free for 20 years. The last strike occurred in 1990.
Market Recovery
Phase II of the market share study based on ESA electrical permit data will soon be complete. The data gives the most accurate measure of union market share by sector and type of structure ever produced. The study provides a base line of union market share for the period July 2000 to June 2003. The ETBA is now working on analyzing the data for the next two years ending June 2005. The results will indicate loss or gain of union market share allowing the local parties to better focus their market recovery efforts or to launch Local Area Modification applications, where justified.
Research
The ETBA will continue to perfect its market research throughout 2007 in order to invest additional authority into its market recovery, negotiations and local area modification agenda.
During 2007, ETBA will attempt to broaden the ESA permit market share research to provide more three dimensional views of union market share.
Electrical Trade Joint Board (ETJB
During the term of a collective agreement, the ETBA participates in ongoing policy matters and grievance resolution in partnership with the IBEW-CCO through the ETJB under the guidance of the independent Chair, Paul Gardner. The ETBA representatives on the ETJB are:
- Peter Bryant
- George Docherty
- Wayne Gatien
- Erv Krause
- Dave Mason
- John Raepple
Along with their IBEW counterparts, these members are responsible for governance of all joint activities between the ETBA and IBEW-CCO.
Joint Electrical Promotion Plan (JEPP)
JEPP is a not-for-profit corporation directed jointly by the ETBA and the IBEW-CCO, whose objectives are to promote the unionized electrical contracting industry, to promote the superior quality and skills of unionized electricians, communication workers and contractors, and to develop leading edge management, technical and safety training programs.
ECAO representatives on the JEPP Board of Directors are:
- Rick Ball
- Peter Bryant
- Dave Mason
- John Raepple
- Eryl Roberts
- John Wright, and
- Johannes Ziebarth
The on line fire alarm updating program is about to be launched after more than a year of development work. Beta testing commences in May and the course and exam should be live by September 2007.
During 2006, JEPP continued to review different methods for marketing unionized electrical contractors. A 5 point program including help for contractors to promote themselves, high level image campaigns, community involvement, client relations and local area initiatives is being implemented.
The promotion plan also provides an excellent vehicle for joint political action on issues where the ECAO and IBEW share interests. This attribute is best deployed on issues such as protecting contractor interests against utilities at the Ontario Energy Board and maintaining the integrity of the electrical trade through lobbying the government.
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