Greg Weston, Moncton Times Transcript, Published Saturday November 14, 2009

FREDERICTON - The union representing NB Power's 2,200 electrical workers does not support the proposed deal to sell the company to Hydro-Quebec, since their leader says it is vaguely worded and raises more questions than it answers.

"After careful review and examination of the details that have been made available, we feel the government should not proceed with this deal," said Ross Galbraith, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 37, at a news conference in Fredericton yesterday.

"I'm especially concerned for employees at Dalhousie and the other thermal generating stations, whose future has been thrown into doubt. Employees who work there have had their world turned upside down."

On Oct. 29, the governments of New Brunswick and Quebec announced the $4.75-billion sale of most of NB Power's assets to Hydro-Quebec. Not being sold are New Brunswick's fossil-fuel burning plants, including those at Dalhousie, Belledune and Coleson Cove.

The Dalhousie facility is slated for closure when the Venezuelan oil deal runs out sometime in late-2010 or early-2011, while the latter two can be shut down on one-year's notice under the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Ronald Pink, a labour lawyer for the union, said the workers are objecting to the deal because of the unclear language it contains in regards to their futures -- it reads existing collective agreements will be "respected" -- and the uncertainty surrounding long-term energy rates in the province.

"'Respect' is not a word that has much legal meaning," Pink said. "There's no guarantees, no commitments, no undertakings that the collective agreements will be transferred in every respect."

He added that while the deal honours the employees' current pension plan, new workers may not be given equal access to the same plan.

Energy Minister Jack Keir responded to the union's concerns, saying the language in the agreement will become more specific as the details are negotiated in the coming months.

"Over the next five months, we're going to work towards turning it into a contract," he said.

"It's a fair concern on their part. We've talked to them about that and we'll ensure there's wording in the contract that IBEW 37 is going to continue to be the bargaining agent, that those successor rights are going to be there and those contracts are going to be respected and honoured."

Galbraith said the provincial government used to hold up NB Power as a valuable asset but, since the partnership with Quebec was announced, it has been portrayed as an economic and environmental liability.

"As NB Power's major workforce, we take pride in our work and we take offence when, for propaganda reasons, the government decides to trash this utility," he said.

"It doesn't make sense when you've got three plants that are probably three of the best plants in North America. These are three of the cleanest plants on the continent."

The energy minister responded by saying international emissions agreements are likely to make those facilities more expensive to operate in the future.

"I'm suggesting ...that, when there's a federal government-imposed carbon tax system or cap-and-trade system, it's going to cause a cost to those facilities that they don't currently have," Keir said.

"Regardless of whether this deal goes through or not, that is going to be an impact that NB Power is going to have to deal with."

Jeannot Volpe, a former energy minister in Bernard Lord's Progressive Conservative government, said the union is just the latest group calling for more clarity in the power pact.

"We've been asking for numbers, the auditor general has been asking for numbers," he said. "Anyone looking at what's on the paper and what's between the lines realizes this isn't a good deal for New Brunswickers."