Hydro Ottawa CEO releases statement on latest offer as strike continues

The strike involving Hydro Ottawa’s employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has reached 45 days, and the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) has released a statement on the company’s latest offer.

In a statement released on Friday, Aug 11, Bryce Conrad, Hydro Ottawa’s CEO said the latest offer was rejected by the union.

The latest offer, said Conrad, amounts to a 16.77 per cent increase in wage, or an average of 3.35 per cent per year over the next five years.

According the Hydro Ottawa CEO’s statement, there is also the potential for increases up to one per cent over the final two years of the contract which could result in wages of almost 18 per cent over the five year term.

“This last offer was one of four separate offers tabled to the union over the last month in the hopes of securing an end to this labour disruption,” he said. “I am sharing this information through this letter because the union has published communications stating that they are taking ‘a stand for fair wages and health benefits, improved safety and a lot less workplace toxicity’. They published this statement as recently as this week. We have addressed all of these points. The strike is now about wages.”

Conrad said he believes the latest offer is fair, but also respects the workers right to legally strike.

“Our offers have been rejected by the IBEW, as is their legal right to do so,” he added. “We respect their right to engage in labour action and peaceful picketing.  At the same time, we look forward to the day when this strike is over and I am able to welcome our striking employees back to work.”