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Ontario Utility Locks Out IBEW Workers

April 20, 2011

IBEW members employed by Essex Powerlines Corp., were locked out April 7 after contract talks with the southern Ontario-based utility fell apart the day before.

Toronto Local 636 represents more than 30 inside and outside utility workers at the company. Their contract expired March 31.

The local has been in talks with Essex Powerlines since February.

“Management has refused to seriously bargain with us or offer any real proposals,” says Local 636 Business Representative Brian Manninger. “All they put on the table was 50 pages of concessions.”

The Ontario Ministry of Labour attempted to mediate a settlement in March, but failed after the company refused to budge from its initial offer.  

Details of the negotiations have not been made public yet, Manninger says.

The utility, which is owned by four municipalities – Amherstburg, LaSalle, Leamington and Tecumseh – services 28,000 commercial and residential customers.

Locked-out workers been picketing in front of city halls and lobbying council representatives to get the company back to the bargaining table.

“We’re ready to bargain and get back to work,” Manninger says. “So why isn’t Essex Powerlines?”

This is the second work stoppage in the company’s 11-year history.