Hydro One frustrated with tactics of union bargaining team

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Hydro One continues to encourage two-party bargaining with the Society of Energy Professionals (the Society) but the company is growing frustrated with the behaviour of the Society bargaining team.

Hydro One has made repeated attempts to return to the bargaining table to engage in productive discussions and information sharing. Last week, the company's bargaining team again offered to meet and present financial information that underlines the rationale behind Hydro One's objective of reducing future wage, pension and benefit costs. Unfortunately the Society declined to attend this meeting.

Subsequently, the Society's bargaining team invited Hydro One's team to meet at a public committee room at Queen's Park May 3rd. The company has since learned that the Society has invited several politicians and media to the same location at the same time but has billed the session as a "Wine and Cheese Reception".

"Hydro One can only assume that the Society's proposed meeting is intended as a stunt and our bargaining team will not be taking part," said Steve Strome, Hydro One's Vice President of Labour Relations. "We have continued to offer to meet for productive discussions but the Society's unprofessional tactics indicate that they are disinterested in a negotiated agreement. This is making it increasingly difficult to remain at the table. I urge the Society's bargaining team to take up our offer and agree to meet at a neutral location rather than play games. To that end, our bargaining team will be available for discussions all day at the offices of the Ministry of Labour."