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Tentative agreement between Ottawa and IBEW over Electronics workers

April 13, 2023 | By Anthony Capkun



April 13, 2023 – The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat announced the Government of Canada and IBEW Local 2228 reached a tentative settlement that, upon ratification, will apply to about 1100 public service employees in the Electronics bargaining unit.

The Electronics group comprises technologists and technicians who specialize in the installation and maintenance of electronics equipment for weather facilities, radio frequency allocation and monitoring, as well as air, land, and marine transportation systems.

Employees in this group work across Canada in departments such as Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, National Defence, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

“Much of the past few days of bargaining was spent discussing wages,” wrote Paul Cameron, business manager/financial secretary, Local 2228. “Although the Local still believes the [Electronics] community is under-compensated compared to our private sector counterparts, the bargaining team believes it tested the boundaries of what could be reasonably accomplished with the employer in this round of bargaining.”

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The settlement includes wage increases of more than 10% over four years and a number of other enhancements, reports the Treasury Board, adding that the government and IBEW agreed to continue discussions “to simplify pay rules and processes, and to work together on the ongoing implementation of the hybrid workplace”.

“Both parties came to the table focused on key priorities, resulting in an agreement that is fair for employees and reasonable for taxpayers,” said Hon. Mona Fortier, president, Treasury Board. “I thank the IBEW for their collaboration at the bargaining table, benefitting their members and our employees.”

“I want to thank the negotiating team for their hard work,” Cameron continued. “It is now up to the members to ratify the agreement.”


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