Hamilton water workers ratify tentative agreement with city

The nearly three-month strike between Hamilton water workers and the city ended Monday when the union and employer reached a tentative agreement. On Wednesday, workers ratified that deal.

The agreement will go before city council for approval on July 16, the city said on its website Wednesday. 

Greg Hoath, business manager with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 772, told CBC Hamilton Tuesday he hoped members would approve the deal.

Water workers took to the picket line May 14 after negotiations with the city fell through. 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. 

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."

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

Both sides say ready to return to work despite tense strike

Hoath acknowledged a "fractious" relationship between strikers and the city. Workers disrupted council meetings and Hoath said the city threatened the union, calling their picketing outside transit facilities unlawful. 

However, he said members won't let hard feelings affect their return to work.

"They will go back to work and do their job. This is water and waste water. We're not going to play around with something as important as those services for the public," Hoath said.

City manager Marnie Cluckie shared a similar sentiment in an email to CBC Hamilton Tuesday, saying the employer values the workers and "remains committed to fostering a positive, respectful, and collaborative working relationship."

Two other groups of strikers in Hamilton also recently reached deals:

• Members of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union who were on strike but the workers with Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board approved a tentative agreement Monday. They had been picketing since May 22. 
• Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2073 members voted to ratify a new collective agreement with Canadian Hearing Services. They had been on strike since April 28.