Saskatchewan History

Ten men who were determined to obtain a better life for electrical workers everywhere founded the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in St Louis on November 28, 1891. At the time the electrical industry was just being born and safety standards were non-existent. One out of two workers were being killed on the job, wages were low and the workweek varied from 70 to 80 hours. The Union grew, and on December 20, 1899, it became international with the formation of Local 93 in Ottawa, Ontario and the name changed to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. (I.B.E.W.)

Records indicate the following locals were formed in Saskatchewan:
        1  572 Regina (1907 – 1932)
        2  568 Moose Jaw (1907 – 1918)
        3  589 Saskatoon (1907 – 1910)
        4  802 Moose Jaw (1918 – 1967)
        5  248 Saskatoon (1927 – 1933)
        6  1538 Prince Albert (1946 – 1947)
        7  1717 Prince Albert (1951 – 1971)
Locals that were chartered and still operate:
        1  319 City of Saskatoon (Electrical workers) - 1927
        2  529 Saskatoon (Construction electricians) - 1947
        3  2038 Regina (Construction electricians) - 1959
        4  2067 Regina City - 1959; and SaskPower (Electrical workers) - 1966
History

Civic Employees Association No. 21 first represented the electrical workers for the City of Regina. In February 21, 1950 the Electric Utilities Employee Union (E.U.E.U) No. 9 was certified as the bargaining agent for all workers employed in the City of Regina Electrical System.

A strike that occurred July 23, 1950 left a lot of dissatisfaction within the membership and the Canadian Labour Congress encouraged the workers from Local 9 of E.U.E.U. to select an appropriate union operating in their field. A vote for a new union was held and included The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the National Union of Municipal Employees and the Oil and Chemical Workers Union. The I.B.E.W. won and Local 2067 was chartered on November 1, 1959, with C.C. McVeigh being the first President/Business Manager.

In 1965 the Saskatchewan Power Corporation purchased the electrical generating plant and the distribution system of the City of Regina. Along with these facilities came the workers, and I.B.E.W. Local 2067. On November 5, 1965, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (O.C.A.W.), who represented all other Saskatchewan Power Corporation workers, attempted to raid I.B.E.W. Local 2067 suggesting “It simply does not make sense to think that we can continue as two separate bargaining units”. This action eventually led to 900 O.C.A.W. Saskatchewan Power Corporation workers joining I.B.E.W. Local 2067 in 1966.

In the years that followed other facilities were purchased or built by the Saskatchewan Power Corporation (later to become SaskPower) and out of these operations I.B.E.W. Local 2067 gained new members. North Sask Electric workers and employees at Island Falls Generating Station all became I.B.E.W. Local 2067 members.

In 1984 Manalta purchased the Popular River Mine in Coronach, SK from SaskPower. In 1998 Manalta sold its assets to Luscar Ltd and in 2006 Luscar Ltd. sold it’s assets to Prairie Mines & Royalties Ltd. The employees continue to retain their membership in the union and be represented by I.B.E.W. Local 2067.

In 1988 the City of Swift Current electrical workers were organized into I.B.E.W. Local 2067.
Strikes and Lockouts
Strikes:
        1  July 23, 1950, resolved with the help of a Conciliator, Justice S.E. Richards, on August 2,         1950.
        2  January 11, 1975, the government passed back to work legislation and appointed Judge         Moore as the arbitrator. The results were a 16.25% raise, a shorter work week and a         severance payout.
        3  July 12, 1976, a strike occurred to protest a roll back. The federal government had         established wage and price controls. Wage increases were rolled back from 13.65% to         10.25%. The strike ended August 11, 1976 with the rollback from 13.65% to 11.70%.

Lockout:
        1  In 1998, SaskPower locked out I.B.E.W. workers at all power plants. Management hoped          that the remaining workers would strike and that the government would then legislate an end          to the dispute. The remaining I.B.E.W. workers did not strike, forcing the government to          legislate an end to the lockout.