Non-binding mediation next up for Hydro Ottawa and its striking workers 

By CityNews Ottawa staff

After more than 50 days on strike, both Hydro Ottawa and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636, the union representing its workers, have agreed to a non-binding mediation to help resolve the outstanding issue of a wage increase.

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, Bryce Conrad, chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Hydro Ottawa, told The Sam Laprade Show that officials have sat down with the union, listened to their concerns, and and have addressed all safety issues.

As for wages, Hydro Ottawa said its last offer provides a cumulative wage increase of 16.77 per cent over five years, with an average increase to wage rates of 3.35 per cent per year. The company also said they included the potential for increases of up to 1 per cent, over the final two years of the contract, which would “bring the cumulative increase to almost 18 per cent over the five-year term.”

According to Mike Hall, a business representative with the union, they are working to secure Hydro Ottawa employees a top ten spot in the province, in terms of wages. However, Hydro Ottawa did not agree.

“If they don’t want to commit to the top ten, then give us some protection against inflation and, again, they said the board of directors would not allow them to do that,” Hall explained.

While both sides have agreed to non-binding mediation, there’s no word on when that could happen.

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