FortisBC has received 72 hour strike notice from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, (IBEW) local 213.
A press release from FortisBC states there is no job action taking place at this time and all FortisBC services are operating as usual.
FortisBC and the IBEW 213 have agreed on an essential services order that was issued by the BC Labour Relations Board.
The FortisBC release stated they have been bargaining with the union since early January 2013 and presented an offer that provided "market-competitive general wage increases."
The current contract expired January 31, 2013.
The release also stated FortisBC is not proposing concessions to employee wages, benefits or pensions.
The Vancouver office of the IBEW 213 referred the Castlegar News to Rod Russell, business representative for the union in Kelowna, but he declined comment at this time.
FortisBC noted the IBEW 213 represents approximately 225 FortisBC employees working primarily in electric generation, transmission, and distribution occupations such as power line technicians, electricians, and system power dispatchers and that they do have a contingency plans to deal with job action.