Building respectful and collaborative relationships is part of how we work at Emera – and they’re just as important to how our companies work with unions and employee councils.
At Emera, our labour relations philosophy is to partner with our unions in relevant jurisdictions to achieve business success. We are comfortable operating in a unionized environment and have a long history of building collaborative working relationships with union leaders and employees through proactive communication, active engagement and focusing on outcomes that are mutually beneficial.
Emera companies provide a comprehensive range of benefits for our eligible employees which can include health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, parental leave, pension plans and stock ownership. Stock ownership is being extended to include all full-time employees of Emera’s companies in 2017. Forty-three per cent of Emera’s employees are eligible to retire in five years, and 56 per cent of employees within 10 years. Eligibility terms of benefits and retirement vary by company and in compliance with local jurisdiction’s legal requirements.
Employee Council
Emera Maine’s Employee Council includes a cross-section of team members who bring forward actions and ideas in response to employee feedback in annual surveys and other channels. In recent years, this employee-led group has spearheaded initiatives like the creation of an online peer recognition tool and an updated Employee Choice Award process. Similar employee councils exist in other Emera companies, providing another way that team members can collaborate with leaders and one another to drive improvements.
Industrial and Employment Benefits Agreement
In 2014, Emera partnered with the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia to sign an Industrial and Employment Benefits agreement for the Maritime Link Project. The agreement includes commitments to equal opportunities for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador businesses and residents. It also provides for a fair, open and transparent procurement and contracting process for suppliers and contractors in both provinces. Emera is committed to investing in the economic strength of our communities, bringing benefits to the local economy.
Emera Benefits Committee
The Emera Benefits Committee brings together the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union executive and management representatives at Nova Scotia Power to discuss mutually important issues, and to ensure that health premium dollars attract the best value and programs deliver results for members.
