THUNDER BAY — Sheet metal workers in the Thunder Bay area joined their counterparts across Ontario in hitting the picket lines on Monday,
About 170 local members of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association went on strike against the Ontario Sheet Metal Contractors Association.
Dan Krupa, business manager for the union, says the employers are seeking about 30 concessions in a new collective agreement.
"We have three main issues that are local. Many others don't pertain to us," Krupa said.
He said the local members are concerned about a proposal to increase mobility, which would allow contractors to bring in more workers from other parts of the province.
"We don't want them coming in here and not using our manpower," he said, on projects such as future development of the Ring of Fire.
Union member Klayton Talarico said "wages are always a thing," and pointed to a proposal to extend the work week for sheeting and decking crews, and require them to work on weekends at times.
"We want to make sure the companies are making money but we also want time to be with our families. We're fighting for our rights as workers," Talarico said.
According to the union, sheeting and decking crews would see their work weeks lengthened from 40 to 44 hours, with any time missed due to bad weather or other outside factors being made up without paying overtime.
On the other side of the bargaining table, Walter Keating speaks for the Lakehead Sheet Metal Contractors Association.
He said the dispute mostly involves provincial issues such as hours of work and union-hall hiring practices, and there are only "a few minor local issues."
Keating described the onset of the strike as "a tough day for everybody. Most of our workers are more like family than just workers to us. So it's tough to see guys not at work for sure."
He said everyone is "stuck" in the provincial issues dispute, adding that it's challenging for smaller markets such as Thunder Bay when they are affected by "bigger-city problems."
Keating noted that on Monday everyone on the picket line was polite and respectful.
"We all understand where we all. Hopefully we can get this resolved and we can move forward."
He said some customers are unhappy to be impacted by the labour dispute, and that "things could get a little more difficult" the longer the dispute drags on.
Krupa said the union will stay out "as long as it takes," but he hopes negotiations resume shortly.
The Ontario contractors association, he said, wants a one-size-fits-all agreement for the province, but the union would prefer a different approach.
"We all know there are many different regions throughout the province. We want to be able to negotiate our stuff locally instead of it being province-wide."
