Water Fight- Hoath Outraged

While the phrase “Water Fight” may offer a clever characterization of the dispute between the City of Hamilton and its water workers, the matter at hand is no laughing matter. It is a serious issue with significant implications for public trust and labour relations.

In response to the City’s official press release, available here we posed two questions to Greg Hoath, Business Manager of IUOE Local 772: 

1. The City’s press release attributes the water quality complaints in Ward 10 to planned maintenance work and emphasizes that these issues were unrelated to the labour disruption. In light of the Ministry’s findings, does HOWEA still maintain that the public was misinformed, and if so, what specific concerns does the union have regarding the City’s public communications or safety protocols during the disruption?

2. Given the Ministry's conclusion that there were no regulatory or safety violations, what outcome or assurance is HOWEA seeking on behalf of its members and the public with respect to how water service issues and emergency plans are communicated and handled during labour disputes?

Mr. Hoath responded as follows: 

We are disappointed in the Ministry of Environment as they have not responded to many of our requests. The Stoney Creek matter, with no water followed by brown water was not planned maintenance. If so, the affected areas would have been notified. We received inside information with screenshot of the SCADA system screen. SCADA is the computer monitoring system. The reservoir ran dry, the pumps ran dry and became air locked, the station overheated and it was operator error.

We remain concerned as all 54 employees are provincially certified and licensed at a high level. Qualifications and experience are unique to the Hamilton facilities. There are over 170 outstations, wastewater collection sites, wells and reservoirs. The work is reactive and with older equipment requires subtle and timely manipulation that only the most experienced operators can manage. Water main breaks occur this time of year when pressures are not properly maintained. Several occurred early on costing taxpayers thousands in unnecessary repairs.

We were essential during crisis like Covid and disposable at contract time, despite managers receiving greater than 30% increases.

Again, this strike is about $300000 in pay equity internal parity with other City employees in water wastewater who require much less certifications. To use an analogy, it would be like telling an RN in a hospital, you should accept a lower rate of pay than an Environmental Aide?

We want to be back at work but the City must recognize this 20 year old inequity and fix it now. Rather than spending millions on an unnecessary labour disruption. As a born and bred Hamiltonian and taxpayer I am outraged.