ICBC agrees to change potentially devastating policy on personal insurance impacts of accidents in fleet-insured vehicles

In Fall 2019, ICBC announced a policy change that would have meant that commercial drivers found at fault for accidents in work vehicles would potentially pay more for their personal insurance.

"Our union immediately understood that the original policy was completely unfair and would have potentially devastating impacts on BCGEU members and tens of thousands of other working British Columbians who operate vehicles as part of their job," said Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU. "We raised those concerns with the BC Public Service Agency and were impressed with their willingness to work with us to protect our members' interests."

As a result of the efforts of the BCGEU and other advocates inside and outside B.C.'s labour movement, ICBC changed the policy: at-fault crashes in a fleet vehicle have no impact on the driver's personal policy or any other policies where they're listed as a driver. The employer has also confirmed that at-fault crashes while driving B.C. government fleet vehicles will not impact an individual's private insurance rates.

"The BCGEU understands and supports the ongoing work to put ICBC on solid footing," said Smith. "Given that context, we are extremely pleased with ICBC's decision to protect workers by changing this policy. And, on behalf of every BCGEU member who would have born the brunt of the original policy, I'm extremely grateful to the BCGEU members and staff who did the legwork to get this done."

Read more about the changes here.

In solidarity,

Stephanie Smith
President

Mike Eso
Staff Representative

UWU/MoveUP