Workers picket outside Waterloo regional headquarters on 2nd day of strike
'We want to work, we want to be there to support our great region,' airport worker-steward says
Striking Region of Waterloo workers took their picket to regional headquarters in Kitchener, Ont., on Tuesday afternoon.
Inside the building at 150 Frederick St., regional councillors were taking part in a day of committee meetings.
Outside, workers held signs and flags and yelled into bullhorns at passing traffic and pedestrians.
The workers are represented by Local 1656 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Those striking are outside workers, including working in departments like landfill, roads and water, and at the airport.
The strike started at 12:01 a.m. Monday. The union says it's calling for higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living.
The workers have also picketed in front of the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
Local 1656 president Phil Dominas told CBC News the biggest impact the strike will have on the average resident is the landfills being closed.
"That's obviously a nuisance for the public," he said. "All of our workers that were working out the landfill ... they're moving the garbage around and getting it sent to where it needs to go. So it's a huge impact to the public for sure."
Mike Hepditch, who is a chief steward and works at the Region of Waterloo International Airport, said workers are underpaid and deserve more money for helping keep the region running.
"We haven't seen any snowfall yet, but as soon as we do later this week, the regional roads are going to be delayed in being plowed because we don't have the operators out on the roads," he said.
"The landfill is already seeing a major impact by the region closing the landfill so that residents can't even get there to drop off their garbage. Now curbside is being collected, but it's slowed down because they're forcing them to go outside of Waterloo region to drop off that garbage."
Allow more time to catch flights: region
The region says some disruptions are anticipated due to the strike action.
They include:
- Delays getting into the airport, as pickets are slowing down traffic in the area. People are advised to allow an extra hour when arriving at the airport for potential traffic delays.
- Landfills in Cambridge and Waterloo are closed to the public.
The region says it's taking "every effort to minimize" disruptions.
"Services including road maintenance and water services are operating as usual. Drinking water supply and waste water are operating safely without restrictions," it said in a release.
'We're ready to negotiate,' local union president says
Hepditch said he hopes the pickets prompt the public to reach out to their council members.
"We want to work, we want to be there to support our great region. We do all these great services and without us here, you know, unfortunately you have to see the impact," he said.
"What we ask the public [to do] is to reach out to council, tell them to come back to the table. We're ready."
Dominas said the union would like to be at the bargaining table, but no negotiations are currently planned. The region confirmed no meetings are planned, but said it "remains available to negotiate as soon as possible to reach an agreement."
Dominas said it's the union's position the region made promises about wage increases, but those were taken away during bargaining.
He said he hopes the picket in front of regional headquarters on Tuesday sends a message to the region "to get us back to the table."
"We're ready any time," he said. "We're ready to negotiate. Just, again, honour your previous commitment and we'll be right back to the table."
The region has said it will not comment on the bargaining process while negotiations are underway.
With files from Karis Mapp, John Dalusong