Water Fight

In the interest of fairness and balanced reporting, and following City Manager Marnie Cluckie’s recent statement regarding the labour disruption involving the Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) (see it here)—The Hamiltonian reached out to the union for comment.

Here is Greg Hoath's , Business Manager for both the Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 772, based in Hamilton, response: 

IUOE Local 772/HOWEA Business Manager Greg Hoath Press Release

We represent 430000 members in North America both in the private sector and public sector in occupations from RN’s to recycling, from Operating Engineers to Environmental Aides. We represent other members in the City of Hamilton like the engineers at Macassa and Wentworth Lodge.

In this matter we represent the 54 provincially certified and licensed Water & Wastewater Operators that require certification in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection at the highest level and Millwrights, Electricians and Instrument Technicians. These dedicated professionals work 24/7 outside, inside, in inclement weather, with highly dangerous chemicals and in close proximity with raw sewage. The 54 employees were deemed essential during the Covid crisis and forgotten about in bargaining.

The history is important, the issues arose during the disastrous privatization with Philip Utilities . At the time the City was deciding on a renewal contract with the company at the time American Water or returning in house. The latter occurred January 1st, 2005. We informed the Mayor and Council of the two issues that today are the subject of the strike.

At bargaining in 2020, we put the City of Hamilton on notice that if internal pay equity with Hamilton Water Distribution employees requiring significantly less certification, in fact, only level 1 in Water Distribution, a license we require at a higher level and a fair system to achieve top rate, there would be a strike. We requested to communicate to council and were denied.

In December 2024, we indeed presented the City bargaining team with those two proposals, not a long list that typically occurs at bargaining. We recognize it is more than other employees but it is a pay equity matter that exists no where else within the unionized groups.

City Manager Cluckie, with all due respect, is misleading and missing the point in her media release. The union is always available to return to the table but remains steadfast in its position of pay equity. The union has never refused. The union leadership does not make the decision the 54 members provided a strike mandate with 100% vote and rejected the same offer that Ms.Cluckie calls fair, with a 94% vote. In her statement, she is misleading in suggesting that picket activities are concerning. The police have been contacted on at least 10 occasions for frivolous and false claims, wasting valuable police resources. We have been threatened by this administration for conducting our legally protected Charter of Rights freedom to picket City properties. The City was untruthful when stating we delayed buses, we did not. We apologize to the public and employees who have experienced delays. We delay no one from going home, we delay no emergency vehicles including Darts, despite City accusations. 

We are returning to the table tomorrow, a fact the City Manager appeared to be unaware of. The fair offer mentioned is also inaccurate when she ignores those who will experience wage freezes.

We have an inability to attract and retain qualified certified experienced employees because of the low rates compared to other municipalities. Hamilton is also the only combined Water & Wastewater facility in Ontario. Despite that differential the 54 employees are only requesting the same base rate as the other City employees.

Finally, and most importantly to the public. The City cannot guarantee operations and maintenance continue uninterrupted with only two superintendents that are living on site who hold the necessary qualifications. The City already experienced no water followed by brown water in Stoney Creek, numerous water main breaks caused by unqualified staff error. A body in a seat at the facilities is not sufficient. 

Ms. Cluckie references being responsible to taxpayers. We are pleased as taxpayers ourselves that she is concerned. However, she fails to outline the tax dollars being wasted. Hired a 24/7 external security firm that is providing on site 24/7 coverage for a Monday to Friday picket line of about 5 hours. There are more security than picketers and they are being housed in a local hotel . Estimated to be in excess of $500000 wasted tax dollars. The City installed new interior black out fencing to keep the public from seeing in. It was installed after we witnessed 6 staff trying to fix sewage pumps for two days without success. One final point, the City had no issue approving in excess of 45% wage increases for its management staff including 30% not long before the strike.

In the end, we did refuse to sign a protocol that had little to do with safety but everything to do with removing our rights. This has been known by several councillors and Mayor Horwath for 20 years. The time has come to award pay equity, end the injustice, help to recruit and retain qualified personnel that jeopardizes our ability to protect drinking Water and the environment.

We urge the end of the strike. We urge the public to demand a settlement that protects tax dollars and ensures qualified staff protect such a life necessary resource that Hamiltonians can count on. It’s $300000 that represents less than 0.01% of the City of Hamilton budget. Get these 54 critical workers back to work.