Hamilton water and wastewater workers go on strike

Workers at Hamilton’s water and wastewater plants are now on strike following failed contract negotiations.

The City of Hamilton’s Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) union, which represents around 371 employees at Hamilton Water, voted to reject the City’s final offer, deciding to strike at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Fifty-two members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) walked off the job after Wednesday night contract talks fell apart.

The lead negotiator says the city has known for years about wage issues, calling the current pay schedule outdated and unfair.

“We’re only seeking parity, we’re not asking for more, we’re just asking to be treated fair,” said one person.

Workers say they make about $1.35 an hour less than similar workers in another city union and they want equal pay parity.

“To be honest, we find that the offer was insulting, I don’t know how else to put it,” said another person at the strike.

“They offered us a pay cut – it was a pay cut – regions around us are making 10 per cent more and they offered us a pay cut,” said one other person at the protest. “It’s insulting.”

The vote to strike was unanimous.

“It says the employees are united,” said Greg Hoath, the business manager with the IUOE, “Also, the 100 per cent strike vote shows their commitment to a fair and equitable agreement, and that’s what this was all about.”

The strike affects major sites like the Woodward Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The city says there are contingency plans in place to resume operations and ensure the continued delivery of water and wastewater services.

“City staff have worked diligently to prepare for this scenario and ensure essential water services continue without interruption,” said Marnie Cluckie, Hamilton’s city manager.

The city said in a release that all essential water, wastewater, and stormwater services will continue uninterrupted including:

• Operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Monitoring of drinking water and wastewater systems.
• Collection of all regulatory drinking water and wastewater samples, as well as response and investigation to reported spills.
• Redirection of Waste Haulers from Woodward Avenue to the Upper Ottawa Waste Transfer Station.
• Continued essential services at the Hamilton Water Storefront Operations (330 Wentworth Street), including permit sales, appointment scheduling, and the sale of waste hauler and water truck tickets.

They say waste haulers will be redirected from Woodward Avenue to the Upper Ottawa waste transfer station.

Some members of the union are concerned about operations during the strike.

They say there could be a significant impact, like taps running dry, if the city can’t find qualified operators to run the water and sewer systems.

“If there was an error made, if somebody wasn’t on-the-ball and a pump didn’t get started in tie, a tower that feeds water to the communities – the outside communities like Dundas or Flamborough – they could run out of water and it could happen that quickly,” said Hoath.

“I understand that Hamiltonians are concerned about the strike now underway at the City’s water and wastewater treatment facilities,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath in a the released statement. “These highly skilled workers perform essential duties that safeguard public health and protect our natural environment.”

Horwath is encouraging both parties to work toward a fair resolution to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.

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