You are required to join the Union Plan on your first day working for FortisBC if you fit into one of these categories:
• Full-time permanent MoveUP Gas employee
• Full-time permanent IBEW Gas employee
• Full-time permanent IBEW Electric employee
• Full-time temporary IBEW Electric employee
When you join the Union Plan, you will need to complete a pension enrolment form so that FortisBC and the third-party pension service providers have access to the information required to administer your pension. It is important for you to provide accurate information, including your marital status and beneficiary. Here is a copy of the Pension enrolment & appointment of beneficiary form.
You are required to join the Union Plan on your first day working for FortisBC if you fit into one of these categories:
• Full-time permanent MoveUP Gas employee
• Full-time permanent IBEW Gas employee
• Full-time permanent IBEW Electric employee
• Full-time temporary IBEW Electric employee
When you join the Union Plan, you will need to complete a pension enrolment form so that FortisBC and the third-party pension service providers have access to the information required to administer your pension. It is important for you to provide accurate information, including your marital status and beneficiary. Here is a copy of the Pension enrolment & appointment of beneficiary form.
There may be death benefits payable from the Union Plan when you pass away. New members can designate a beneficiary for these potential benefits by completing the Appointment of Beneficiary section of the pension enrolment form. Existing members can make or change beneficiary designations using the Beneficiary Change form.
If you do not designate a beneficiary and do not have a spouse at the relevant time, any death benefits payable will form part of your estate for tax and probate purposes and will usually take longer to distribute.
If you have a spouse…
Under British Columbia pension legislation, you must name your spouse as your primary beneficiary. Even if you name someone else, such as your child, your spouse will remain your primary beneficiary unless they complete a waiver.
“Spouse” under the Union Plan means:
The person to whom you are legally married, unless you have been living separate and apart for two or more years.
OR
The person you have been living with in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years.
No matter what your situation, it is important to have up-to-date beneficiary information on file in case you and your spouse pass away at the same time, or your spouse dies before you.
The annual pension statement you receive in June of each year will confirm who is on file as your beneficiary and spouse. Be sure to review the names and, if necessary, make changes using the Beneficiary Change form.
You and FortisBC contribute to the Union Plan in equal amounts, which are calculated as part of bi-weekly payroll processing. The pension contributions are pooled together, remitted to the pension fund, and invested by the Board of Trustees on behalf of all plan members.
of your earnings up to the YMPE
of your earnings in excess of the YMPE
Keep in mind that contribution rates can change over time, as approved by the Board of Trustees. If you are currently employed by FortisBC, you can check out Connector for current and historical Union Plan contribution rates (making sure to select the section for your affiliation).
Let’s say your annual base pay is $80,000 and the YMPE is $71,300 (2025 YMPE). | ||
|---|---|---|
Your Plan Earnings would be: | = 70% of earnings up to YMPE + 100% of earnings above the YMPE | |
= 70% X $71,300
+ 100% x ($80,000 – $71,300) | ||
= $49,910 + $8,700 | ||
= $58,610 | ||
$5,392.12 per year (9.2% of Plan Earnings) to the Union Plan, or around $207 per pay.
The Union Plan was designed to work with the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to provide you with regular income in retirement. Each year, you contribute a percentage of your pay to the CPP, up to a maximum earnings limit (the YMPE). Because you’re contributing to the CPP for amounts below the YMPE, your Union Plan contributions are reduced for this portion of your earnings.
