TORONTO — OPSEU/SEFPO says the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) continues to “stonewall” after it received an offer from 170 safety inspectors currently on strike who are seeking “respect and a fair first contract from management.”
The TSSA responded to the OPSEU/SEFPO offer after a week, refusing to meet to discuss the union’s settlement offer, states the union’s website, adding the employer made it clear they were unwilling to make any movement from their offer presented on July 20.
“Last week’s reasonable offer makes it clear the priority for the inspectors is negotiating a fair deal so they can get back to their rigorous safety inspections that keep us all safe,” said OPSEU/SEFPO president JP Hornick in a statement. “Every single day these inspectors aren’t doing their work is a bad day for this province with real consequences for people.
“We are confident we can reach an agreement through good faith negotiations.”
On Aug. 29, just a week ahead of Labour Day, OPSEU/SEFPO urged strike supporters to send an email asking Ontario Premier Doug Ford to: “Intervene for public safety – end the safety inspector strike with a fair deal.”
Safety inspectors, who have been on strike for five weeks, are responsible for inspections of construction sites and over elevating devices across the province as well as inspecting fuel burning equipment, propane refuelling stations, amusement park rides, food trucks and elements in nuclear power plants.
In an email to the Daily Commercial News, Alexandra Campbell, vice-president of communications and stakeholder relations at TSSA, said the authority’s final offer presented to the union was a very good offer with no changes to benefits and salary increases each year of a multi-year agreement.
“TSSA will agree to continue negotiations with OPSEU when they present a reasonable response to TSSA’s final offer that reflects the realities of a not-for-profit organization like ours and is intended to reach a deal,” said Campbell.
“From TSSA’s point of view, OPSEU has not yet presented a reasonable offer. They are asking for money and other things that just don’t exist. We are hopeful OPSEU will take our final proposal to a ratification vote so the strike can end and our valued inspectors can return to work.”
I am homeless thanks to this strike 😣😣😣 All my belongings are in storage!! I cannot move into my newly built condo until the elevators are inspected, I had to move from my last home as it was sold. Please go back to work 😫
Get back to work! Out of a job cause you greedy people want more money for the same amount of work that is done.
We need this strike like a hole in the head!, As it is our project is already five years behind, we cannot even afford five more days of this strike.
Let reason and goodwill prevail.