Union officials that represent about 3,000 Manitoba Hydro employees expressed both surprise and concern last month when they learned of big pay increases for top Hydro executives at a time when the crown corporation is seeing decreasing revenues and the closure of rural officers.
In fact, at the same time that the NDP appointed board of Manitoba Hydro was in the process of closing 12 district offices in rural Manitoba and increasing Hydro rates yet again by almost 4%, it was approving raises to several Hydro vice-presidents of anywhere from 16.5 per cent to 23.7 per cent according to the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). Division managers were given a 22 per cent across the board raise according to the union.
Given the financial situation that Manitoba Hydro currently faces, it is hardly a surprise that those providing frontline services at Hydro would be concerned. After all, the closure of rural Hydro offices was supposed to be about saving money. Yet, top Hydro executives were able to secure big pay increases while Manitobans were being asked to pay more again for hydro and rural offices were closing.
All of this comes at a time when Manitoba Hydro is facing unique financial challenges. The recently released annual report for Hydro showed that there was a decline in net income and export sales again last year. In fact, the exports for Manitoba Hydro are still significantly below 2008-09 levels and there is no indication when they may even return to those levels. At the same time, there was an increase in debt and expenses at the corporation.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that representatives of Manitoba Hydro employees express concern that there is money for big pay increases for the top executive members, but there is less money coming into the corporation which impacts almost everyone else at Hydro. However given the silence from Greg Selinger and his Hydro minister on these issues, it seems the concerns of Hydro employees is not a top priority for our provincial NDP government.
