What to expect during a strike at Crown corporations

With a possible strike looming at seven provincial Crown corporations on Friday, customers may notice a change in some areas of services provided.

Unifor represents approximately 4,300 to 4,400 Crown employees. In the event of a strike, essential services agreements and business continuity plans are in place at all Crowns to ensure vital services continue.

Here is what we know so far.

SaskTel

If there is a strike by the nearly-3,000 unionized members at SaskTel, the Crown would enact its business continuity plan to limit the impact on customer service as much as possible, using its managers to do work.

The Crown is reminding customers they can manage their services online through mySASKTEL, including changing their wireless or internet plans. Customers can pay their bill online, by mail or in person at their bank or credit union.

For equipment returns, customers are asked not to drop off equipment and instead mail it to SaskTel from a post office.

SaskEnergy

There are 800 SaskEnergy employees represented by Unifor.

Because of the potential dangers of natural gas, SaskEnergy’s service technicians would be declared essential in the event of a strike.

The 24/7 emergency line will still be in operation and all emergency services will be running.

That includes emergencies such as a pipeline being struck, an underground leak, carbon monoxide call, providing regular support to fires, indoor/outdoor odors and line locates (Sask 1st Call).

In the event of a strike, SaskEnergy will not do line or meter installations to the approximately 200 homes or businesses currently in the queue. It will not be involved in any regular construction work or alterations for services such as moving a gas line if someone is building a deck.

Any work put on hold because of a strike will get done once the labour dispute is resolved. SaskEnergy explained any work that’s done in the summer can be done in the winter but it may take longer and cost more. For customers that have agreements for summer installation, SaskEnergy said they will still get billed according to that agreement and the Crown will absorb the extra cost for any winter work.

The most noticeable impact to customers will be to those making general inquires over the phone. SaskEnergy’s main customer service phone line will not be in operation. Instead, it’s asking customers to leave a message or email the Crown and wait for a response. SaskEnergy said it will get back to every customer although it may take longer than usual.

Because of this, it’s encouraging customers to sign up and use the My Account feature online to monitor and manage their accounts themselves.

Customers will continue to receive their bills during a strike. If a customer has been disconnected for non-payment but makes the payment to continue service again, they will be reconnected.

SaskPower

If the power goes out, it will be restored by the regular line technicians. They are with a different union, International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

The Unifor members within SaskPower are mostly in the areas of administrative support and call centres.

SaskPower will still answer it’s customer service phone line but warns it might take longer than usual.

Like SaskEnergy, it’s encouraging customers to use it’s My Account online feature to view and pay bills.