Ontario Premier urges end to Hydro One strike

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Premier Dalton McGuinty called for an end to the strike by 1,000 Hydro One workers after a 15-minute meeting with union members who have been on strike since June 1.

More than 200 members of the Society of Energy Professionals got the premier's attention when they staged a noisy protest outside the ballroom of a downtown hotel where he was about to speak to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

McGuinty, speaking to reporters after the impromptu meeting, admitted the drawn-out dispute "has been a little bit frustrating for me." He said.

"This strike has gone on for far too long and I strongly encourage both sides to grab some goodwill, come to the table and understand that they are both going to have to give a little."

He refused, however, to get personally involved. The society represents engineers, accountants, supervisors and computer specialists, many earning six-figure salaries, who work at the government-owned Hydro One, which maintains and operates electricity transmission across Ontario.

The dispute, which has dragged on all summer, is over company demands that members work longer hours, reportedly 39 hours a week, up from 35 hours in the last contract, and that new employees receive lower pay and benefits.

Andrew Müller, president of the Society of Energy Professionals, said he was "very encouraged" by the meeting with McGuinty. "The premier understands he has the ability to resolve the strike, and that we will work with him to reduce costs and improve Hydro One operations. Now it's up to him to make it happen."

Müller said the union is fighting Hydro One's unfair demands for a wage and benefit schedule that discriminates against younger professionals by offering new employees 22 per cent less in wages, 50 per cent less in benefits, and a reduced pension, along with an effective 11 per cent wage cut for most workers.

"I told him we think the discriminatory proposals Hydro One wants us to accept are not the kind of thing Liberals want to be known for," Müller said. "We need more young professionals in the industry, but Hydro One management's proposals would drive them away."