Hamilton water workers vote in favour of deal with city to end 8-week strike

The vote is in, Hamilton Water Treatment Plant workers have voted 78% in favour of a deal that brings an end to the nearly 8-week long strike.

“We ratified the settlement on Monday, it was contentious but it was ratified,” says Greg Hoath the Business Manager of Local 772.

Despite approving a new four year contract this morning the union representing more than 50 Hamilton water workers says its members are still unhappy.

“While I was pleased the majority felt it was a decent deal, because it was challenging bargaining and we still have an issue of parity,” Hoath says.

The union envisioned two issues going into bargaining, one was pay structure the other was parity.

This new contract comes with a 16% pay raise over four years but it’s not enough.

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“One of the contentious parts is our trades, they’re paid between $36 and $43 in this deal. But if you look at an electrician for example, they’re paid $55 so that’s challenging,” Hoath says.

To bridge that gap the two sides agreed on arbitration.

“We have the right to go to arbitration which is unusual, the parties have agreed that the arbitrator has the right to resolve the parity issue,” says Hoath.

As it stands now, the Business Manager of Local 772 says even though there’s a new contract the city will continue to have a big problem retaining, and attracting “trades.”

“We have a revolving door and a problem of attracting and retaining trades. We haven’t been able to hire one in a year,” Hoath says.

CHCH News reached out to City Manager Marnie Cluckie for comment but she was unavailable.

The workers are expected to be back on the job by tomorrow night.

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