Hydro strike heats up; Judge sides with union on picketing

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Ontario's superior court has denied a request by Ontario's power utility to limit the picket line activities of 1,000 striking members of Hydro One's professional union.

Justice Colin Campbell rejected a motion for an injunction late last night, saying that Hydro One had failed to show how public safety has been put at risk by picketers who have been delaying other utility employees about 15 minutes each since the strike began last week in Barrie. The walkout spread province-wide June 6.

Union spokesman Brian Robinson said the union was very happy with the decision.

"We find it interesting the same company that has been telling us for weeks everything would be fine during strike went to court saying the system was about to fall apart like "Humpty Dumpty."

Hydro spokesperson Peter Gregg said the ruling shows that Hydro One's ability to manage the strike situation "has been almost too good."

He said the utility was just seeking another "tool for its tool box" to insure that non-striking Hydro One workers can get to work "without hindrance."

The first day of a province-wide strike by 1,000 Hydro One professionals had no major service problems, besides a few short-circuits here and there caused by the 30C weather.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, raising the possibility that a strained power grid might break in some places.

But other than isolated outages blamed on stormy weather, the system worked as Hydro One said it would.

Picket lines delayed drivers entering the utility's headquarters on Bay St.

It was the same in Pickering, where workers trying to enter a Hydro One maintenance centre on Brock Rd. were delayed for 15 minutes each.

Despite 30C temperatures, peak power demand was only around 23,300 megawatts, about eight per cent less than the system would experience in a July heat wave.

Energy Minister Dwight Duncan said he has no plans to intervene in the strike for now, despite an impasse in negotiations.

The key issues in the dispute involve Hydro One's stated plan to cut costs by paying new professionals it hires 10 per cent less wages and benefits than existing workers.