Professionals at Hydro One walk out of Barrie control centre

BARRIE, ONTARIO - A strike has begun at Hydro One.

Early morning June 1, professional employees at the Ontario Grid Control Centre formed picket lines instead of returning to their jobs.

"Our sector control supervisors - who are absolutely crucial to the operation of the transmission system - have been forced from their positions since last Thursday (May 26)," said Keith Rattai, Hydro One Local Vice President of the Society of Energy Professionals. "Not 48 hours after they were, a power outage occurred. They're trying to blame it on a junior employee, but it's management who's responsible. We won't stand by any more while Hydro One endangers the system in this way."

Rattai said the Society regrets having to take this action, but feels it has no choice.

"Management's not interested in settling, and Premier McGuinty doesn't seem to be listening. Meanwhile, management harassment is getting unbearable inside the control centre. We'd rather not be in the position where we have to strike, but it looks like the only thing they'll pay attention to."

The demands Hydro One management is making of its professionals have been resoundingly rejected by two votes of Society-represented employees, both with more than 90 per cent of employees voting, and both by over 95 per cent.

Rejected were:

- The Hydro One management proposal that all professionals hired after March 31, 2005 be subject to a wage scale 10 per cent lower than that of current employees, and lower pension and health benefits - for their entire careers;

- Adding four hours of work per week with no compensation - an 11 per cent cut in pay, or 25 days of unpaid labour per year;

The walkout at Barrie leaves about 800 professional employees still on the job elsewhere in Ontario.