Enersource Collective Agreement

What the merger has in store for unionized and unrepresented workers has yet to be discussed and finalized. All existing collective agreements continue to apply to the working conditions, wages and benefits of the unionized workers concerned. Full-time permanent employees of the Union Power Workers have workplace safety and location provisions in the PowerStream/PWU collective agreement, which runs until December 31, 2017. This should provide valuable time to work with the new employer to build a healthy and respectful relationship with employment services that recognizes the importance of the company`s success and the value of its employees and their families in this success. Duncan (pictured right) has a long and long history with the PWU, which dates back to 2000, when British Energy applied to operate Bruce Nuclear Power Development. In 2001, Bruce Power was created with Duncan as President and CEO, a position he has held since then through several ownership structures that he has extensively built. He led the company in negotiating 7 collective agreements with the PWU and most of those he directly involved in the negotiations. On February 1, Duncan Hawthorne announced that he would step down as President and CEO of Bruce Power. The announcement was made on the heels of the Department of Energy`s announcement in December that Bruce Power and the Ontario government had reached an agreement to begin major refurbishments of Blocks 3 to 8 in 2020. While many expected Duncan to stay longer, this should give Bruce Power an appropriate opportunity to recruit both a new president and CEO and resume the turnaround program well in the head of the 2020 launch.

The decision states: “The EPO concludes that the proposed merger of Enersource, Horizon, PowerStream and Hydro One Brampton is the injury test, which is why the EPO approves this transaction.” On Thursday, December 8, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) issued its decision on the proposed merger that would bring together four local distributors – PowerStream, Enersource, Horizon Utilities and Hydro One Brampton – to form the second largest distribution company in Ontario, after Hydro One. The new company (MergeCo), still officially designated, will serve 950,000 electricity consumers and 350,000 water/sanitation customers. It will extend geographically from Penetanguishene to St. Catharines, including Aurora, Brampton, Barrie, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. The four companies currently employ more than 1,500 people. Mayo Schmidt (pictured right) replaces Carmine and is in charge, with a newly appointed board of directors, of the development of the company for the good of public and private shareholders. The Union of Power Workers congratulates all those who have worked so hard to achieve this merger/acquisition. We look forward to helping create a first-class business, with first-class jobs and working relationships in the new company. Relationships are a key to success in our industry and, as always, the PWU will continue to approach the new leaders of all these companies in order to create an honest and open dialogue necessary for the development and maintenance of value partnerships. The change is not limited above the house. The skilled workforce is getting younger as baby boomers continue to retire and the millennial generation has established their presence at entry levels (we`ll talk a lot more about that in future issues).