Hydro Management continues to use safe equipment, union says

GREATER SUDBURY - Union concerned about safety as Hydro Management uses untested equipment - calls on Ministry of Labour to investigate.

The union representing 85 Greater Sudbury Hydro workers, on strike since June 19th, warns of health and safety risks as hydro management uses untested equipment to work on live wires.

"We've repeatedly asked the Ministry of Labour to investigate reports that equipment overdue for inspection is still being used by management to work on live wires during the strike," says Gerry Poliquin, spokesperson for the striking workers, members of Local 4705 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Equipment is supposed to be inspected on a yearly basis. July 15th was the one-year point for many inspections, and CUPE believes the untested equipment is still being used.

"We are very concerned about this issue," says Poliquin. "If an accident occurs and somebody is hurt because the equipment was not inspected, hydro and Greater Sudbury ratepayers could be on the hook for expensive lawsuits."

"This is just one more example of the mess this strike is causing," says CUPE National Representative Dennis Burke. "The longer this strike goes on, the more risk is involved - it's time for politicians to step in and end the strike."