Excerpt from a story written by Stephen Llewellyn (NB Power | Province to announce details of agreement with Hydro-Quebec) and published in the Daily Gleaner on October 29th:

Ross Galbraith, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 37, which represents 2,200 of NB Power's 2,600 employees, said Wednesday he's concerned about how any deal with Hydro-Quebec will affect workers here.

"I think we should be involved in any discussions," he told The Daily Gleaner. "We would like a seat at the table.It is pretty clear that discussions are occurring at high levels."

Galbraith said NB Power workers have good paying jobs that are important to all parts of the province.

He said he's concerned how a deal will affect those jobs, pensions and benefits, and terms and conditions of employment. "It has all been speculation so far."

He said Graham has referred to a memo of understanding being worked on. There would be a lot of work to do after such a memo, said Galbraith. He said the last time a provincial utility changed hands was in the mid-1990s when Nova Scotia sold its power company to Emera.

"There were some (work force) reductions," said Galbraith. "They have had a reduction of reliability in that province. When we have severe weather, we hear news reports of the power being out in Nova Scotia more frequently than it is in this province."