Private Contractors
OPSEU LOCAL 120 NEWS RELEASE
Employer may force American Water Services Canada
Corporation workers out on strike
September 14, 2009
The union representing the workers of
American Water Services Canada Corporation, a subsidiary of American Water
Services, based in New Jersey, members of Local 120 of the Ontario Public
Services Employees Union (OPSEU) says their members may have no choice but to
strike if the employer continues to ignore their bargaining demands.
Carol Warner, negotiator for the Ontario
Public Service Employees Union, said it is incomprehensible that American Water
Services Canada continues to refuse to treat these employees the same as their
privatized counterparts.
On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, the
Conciliator requested a "no board" report from the Ministry of Labour, stating
that talks had reached an impasse. This has resulted in a legal strike/lockout
date of 12:01 a.m. on September 25, 2009.
Doug Newstead, bargaining team chair says “We
just want to achieve wages, and working conditions, to bring us from the bottom
of the pack to the middle of the pack, in comparison to other private
contractors in the water industry in Southern Ontario.”
The workers of American Water Services Canada
Corporation include Maintenance Operators and Skilled Trades employees at the
Water Plant located in Grand Bend, Ontario, which supplies water the City of
London and communities north of London to Lake Huron.
The parties will meet on September 18 in a
last-ditch attempt to reach a settlement.
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