Arbitrator to assist Hydro One talks

With Ontario perilously short of electricity during a summer heat wave, Premier Dalton McGuinty has quietly appointed arbitrator William Kaplan to help Hydro One, the province's electricity transmission utility, and the Society of Energy Professionals settle a strike that began June 1.

"I think they understand this is a huge (potential) threat to the province," society president Andrew Muller said recently. "We've gone through a tremendous heat wave and it's not even August yet."

Kaplan, vice-chair of the Ontario Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board and a noted labour lawyer, first called the company and union late in July but asked them to keep his involvement quiet, Muller said.

Hydro One spokesperson Peter Gregg said Kaplan is acting to get both sides back to fruitful negotiations but has no power to order a settlement.

The society is striking against Hydro One demands to pay new staff less and lengthen the work week. The union says the latter equals an 11 per cent pay cut.