The Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) union membership has been on strike since May 14 after it rejected the City of Hamilton’s latest offer some six months into negotiations.
The water and wastewater workers say they are asking for a pay increase that reflects the fact that they are required to earn four Level 3 certifications, while some other operations staff, such as distribution and collection workers, are paid about $1.35 an hour more and only required to have one Level 1 certification.
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 772, on behalf of the HOWEA, has also raised concerns about the typically long timelines — which can approach a decade — for the city to facilitate on-the-job training for water workers to reach higher pay grades.
A total of 371 people work at Hamilton Water in both union and non-union positions. There are 55 HOWEA members on strike, who work in skilled trades and operations roles within Hamilton Water, including water and wastewater treatment operations.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
The latest environmental engineering news direct to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Some workers on the picket line told local media that they questioned the City of Hamilton’s ability to safely operate water systems with workers off the job. As of May 19, the Local 772 suggested in a social media post that the plant’s odour control system had already failed.
But Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath disagreed. Horwath and Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie said they have been preparing for a potential strike and have implemented comprehensive contingency plans to maintain critical facilities operations and ensure the continued delivery of water and wastewater services.
“I understand that Hamiltonians are concerned about the strike now underway at the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities,” Horwath announced. “These highly skilled workers perform essential duties that safeguard public health and protect our natural environment. As Mayor, I want to assure residents that contingency plans are in place, and city staff are working hard to maintain safe and uninterrupted operation of our water and wastewater systems. I have deep respect for our water and wastewater workers, and for the collective bargaining process. I encourage both parties to continue to work toward a fair resolution to this dispute as quickly as possible.”
