The Nugget
By: JENNIFER HAMILTON-MCCHARLES,
Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Labour negotiating for ONTC's survival

With little work in the refurbishment division, layoffs and more job losses expected in the new year, Ontario Northland is facing different demands at the bargaining table.

“This upcoming round of bargaining is about the survival of Ontario Northland and the communities that it serves,” said Brian Kelly, a spokesman for the General Chairperson's Association.

“It's about the strategic alliance and Ring of Fire. We're holding the government accountable. They've made a lot of promises. We need them to take the handcuffs off and allow us to get this work.”

Kelly was joined by several union representatives Monday at the Best Western during Unifor's first round of contract negotiations. The second day of talks could take place as early as today.

Unifor is bargaining five collective agreements for 350 employees at Ontario Northland. Contracts expired Dec. 31.

Kelly said the province promised that it would work with Unifor, ONTC, Metrolinx and the Transportation Ministry to explore a strategic alliance that would provide long-term opportunities for rail refurbishment.

He said ONTC also wants a role in developing the Ring of Fire mineral deposit.

Kelly said nothing has happened thus far. In fact, the opposite has happened.

ONTC announced the layoff of 10 painters earlier this month, with more job losses expected in the new year.

Kelly said the next round of cuts could hit the carmen's trade and support workers.

But the last straw, Kelly said, was when he heard Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle tell The Nugget the importance of unions in reshaping ONTC's future.

“A group of us went to Science North on Friday and actually had an impromptu conservation with the (premier),” Kelly said.

He said he was able to ask Kathleen Wynne a quick question about fears the ONTC is being shut down before she was escorted out the door.

Brian Stevens, a national Unifor representative, said this is a significant round of negotiations for ONTC employees.

“We hear promise, promise promise. Well it's about delivering. It's incumbent on this government to deliver. This is a different round of bargaining. It's about sustainability and stability,” he said.

“Businesses can't invest in Northern Ontario without this organization being stable.”

Kelly said this round of bargaining is not about benefits, wages, pensions and contract language.

“It's really more about the commitment from the provincial government,” he said.

“Premier Wynne and Gravelle said a strategic alliance was going to happen. They said that prior to the election, during the election and after the election. It hasn't happened yet.”

Kelly said part of the bargaining this round will be completing the alliance so ONTC has an anchor tenant in its refurbishment division.

The unions will consider reducing the number of bargaining units as Unifor represents five, including two with less than 20 members each.

The union is prepared to suspend the right to strike or lockout while in negotiations.

Stevens said the union isn't taking a hard-line stance.

“We are willing to put that all on the line. We know it will require a collaborative effort to reach an agreement.”

j.hamilton-mccharles@sunmedia.ca

The Nugget
By: JENNIFER HAMILTON-MCCHARLES,
Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Labour negotiating for ONTC's survival