Hamilton water workers reach tentative deal with city after nearly 3 month strike

The near three-month strike by 54 Hamilton water workers may now be over, as the city and the union representing those workers reached a tentative agreement Monday. 

The City of Hamilton shared the news in a social media post just before midnight Monday night. 

"The delivery of critical water, wastewater and stormwater services to the community will continue uninterrupted given the commitment of both parties to recommend the agreement for ratification," the city said on its website.

Greg Hoath, business manager with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 772, told CBC Hamilton the ratification vote is Wednesday, and he hopes members approve the deal.

Hoath said he and members are "pleased" the strike may be coming to an end, adding that "we never hoped to go on strike in the first place." 

Strike about 'pay equity,' union leader says

Union members took to the picket line May 14 after negotiations with the city fell through. Over the next few months, they picketed locations throughout Hamilton including City Hall, the Hamilton Street Railway garage and the major wastewater treatment plant on Woodward Avenue.

The workers, who oversee the water purifying process as well as the discharge of waste water, said they wanted to address decades-old concerns. One was the length of time it takes to reach their top pay rate through on-the-job training. The other was a pay gap that left some members earning about $4 less per hour than another group of workers with fewer certifications, workers told CBC Hamilton. 

The union called for a six-per-cent pay increase over four years to close the gap.

On June 25, city manager Marnie Cluckie issued a news release describing what was then the city's latest offer. She said it made it easier and faster for workers to get to the top pay rate, and would result in wage increases of six to 10 per cent for most workers, and an average of 4.72 per cent for all workers in the first year of the contract. The union rejected that offer.

On Tuesday, Hoath said that while he could not disclose what's in the tentative agreement, it's "improved from the previous position of the city."

"This labour disruption was really over one issue of pay equity or parity," he said. "We are at least going to have the opportunity to address that question and have it answered once and for all."

"The city is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that supports both our valued HOWEA (Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association) members and all Hamiltonians," Cluckie said in a news release Tuesday.

"These past eight weeks have been difficult on our employees, their families and the community we serve. My sincere thanks to everyone for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to finding a resolution so we can continue moving forward together."

Mayor Andrea Horwath said the "deal reflects our city's commitment to fairness, fiscal responsibility and respect for our workers."

'Fractious' relationship between city and strikers 

At times, the relationship between the city and the strikers seemed especially tense. 

Strikers disrupted city council meetings, leading councillors to move to a different room on several occasions. 

In early June, Hoath said the city threatened workers, calling their picketing outside transit facilities unlawful. 

At the time, Cluckie said the city tried to "negotiate a strike and picketing protocol to reduce conflict and increase safety on picket lines" without success.

The strike also prompted questions about how well the water treatment plant was operating and about the safety of city drinking water. Workers said they worried the city would be unable to safely manage without them, but city leaders and the mayor repeatedly said residents could trust the safety of their drinking water.

"Yes it was fractious. It probably still is," Hoath said of the relationship between water workers and their employer. But strike actions were "100 per cent supported" by members "and I would do it again."

Hoath added he's sorry to members of the public who were inconvenienced by strike actions. "We never intended to harm anyone in the public, but at the end of the day, we needed to send a message to the City of Hamilton." 

Generally, he said, strikers received "overwhelming, positive support" from the public. 

At times, water workers rallied with other striking workers in Hamilton, including those with Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, who approved a tentative agreement Monday.